Correlation of Liver Stiffness Measurements with AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Scores in Pediatric Patients with Hepatitis B or Liver Transplantation

Background and Objective: Current standard for assessing liver fibrosis is biopsy. However, its invasive nature, cost, and limited sampling are problematic for many patients. Fibroscan is a technology that utilizes transient elastography (TE) to measure liver stiffness (LSM) quickly and non-invasively. TE is a novel method in children and has shown to be a measure of fibrosis. Biomarkers for hepatic fibrosis include the APRI and FIB-4 scores, which are not well-studied in children. Our goal is to correlate APRI and FIB-4 with LSM in children who have hepatitis B (hep B) or have received liver transplants (LT). Methods: LSM scores of 26 children with hep B and 41 children with LT were retrieved from a research database at Riley Hospital for Children. We then obtained laboratory results closest to the date (+/- 1 year) of their TE. Those results were used to determine APRI and FIB-4 scores. Spearman correlation (rs) was determined between LSM/APRI, LSM/FIB-4, and APRI/FIB-4 in each disease. Results: Table 1. Spearman Correlations for LSM/APRI, LSM/FIB-4, and APRI/FIB-4 in Hep B and LT Disease Comparison Spearman Correlation (rs) Hep B LSM APRI 0.321 LSM FIB-4 0.376 APRI FIB-4 0.731* LT LSM APRI 0.303 LSM FIB-4 0.526* APRI FIB-4 0.632* *p < 0.05 Conclusion and Potential Impact: The moderate correlation of LSM with FIB-4 in LT shows potential for future clinical use, but the correlations of LSM with APRI in both conditions and the correlation of LSM with FIB-4 in Hep B are weaker. APRI and FIB-4 are strongly correlated in these children. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes should be completed. Because patients with LT and chronic hep B regularly need longitudinal evaluation, finding non-invasive tools are important to ensure compliance and ease.

Download Full-text

Non-invasive algorithm of enhanced liver fibrosis and liver stiffness measurement with transient elastography for advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics ◽

10.1111/apt.12559 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 197-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

G. L.-H. Wong ◽

H. L.-Y. Chan ◽

P. C.-L. Choi ◽

A. W.-H. Chan ◽

Z. Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

Transient Elastography ◽

Liver Stiffness ◽

Liver Stiffness Measurement ◽

Stiffness Measurement ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Advanced Liver Fibrosis

Download Full-text

A72 NON-INVASIVE PREDICTION OF ESOPHAGEAL VARICES BY TRANSIENT ELASTOGRAPHY AND PLATELET COUNT IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS B AND ADVANCED CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE: VALIDATION OF BAVENO VI AND EXPANDED BAVENO VI CRITERIA

Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology ◽

10.1093/jcag/gwab002.070 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 37-38

Author(s):

A Zoughlami ◽

J Serero ◽

G Sebastiani ◽

M Deschenes ◽

P Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Platelet Count ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Liver Disease ◽

Esophageal Varices ◽

Diagnostic Performance ◽

Transient Elastography ◽

Chronic Liver ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B Virus

Abstract Background Patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) are at higher risk of developing complications from portal hypertension, including esophageal varices (EV). Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria, based on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography combined with platelet count, have been proposed to avoid unnecessary esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) screening for large esophageal varices needing treatment (EVNT). This approach has not been validated in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, who have etiology-specific cut-off of LSM for liver fibrosis. Aims We aimed to validate the Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria for EVNT in HBV patients with cACLD. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of HBV patients who underwent LSM in 2014–2020. Inclusion criteria were: a) diagnosis of cACLD, defined as LSM >9 kPa; b) availability of EGD and platelets within 1 year of LSM. Baveno VI (LSM <20 kPa and platelets >150,000) and expanded Baveno VI criteria (LSM <25 kPa and platelets >110,000) were tested for EGD sparing. Diagnostic performance of these criteria against gold standard (EGD) was computed and compared to patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) etiologies, where these criteria have been widely validated. In these patients, the threshold for cACLD definition was >10 kPa. Results A total of 287 patients (mean age 56, 95% Child A) were included, comprising of 43 HBV (58% on antiviral therapy), 134 HCV and 110 NASH patients. The prevalence of any grade EV and EVNT was 25% and 8% in the whole cohort, with 19% and 5% in HBV patients, respectively. Table 1 reports diagnostic performance, spared EGD and missed EVNT according to non-invasive criteria and cACLD etiology. Both Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria performed well in patients with HBV-related cACLD. There was no significant difference on diagnostic performance of these non-invasive criteria across the cACLD etiologies. Conclusions These results support use of non-invasive criteria based on LSM and platelets to spare unnecessary EGD in patients with HBV and cACLD. Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria can improve resource utilization and avoid invasive testing in context of screening EGD for patients with HBV-related cACLD. Funding Agencies None

Download Full-text

Non-invasive methods in the assessment of portal hypertension severity

Gastroenterologie a hepatologie ◽

10.48095/ccgh2021125 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 125-133

Author(s):

Soňa Franková ◽

Jan Šperl

Keyword(s):

Portal Hypertension ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Shear Wave ◽

Transient Elastography ◽

Venous Pressure ◽

Liver Stiffness ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Hepatic Veins ◽

Oesophageal Varices ◽

Non Invasive

Portal hypertension represents a wide spectrum of complications of chronic liver diseases and may present by ascites, oesophageal varices, splenomegaly, hypersplenism, hepatorenal and hepatopulmonary syndrome or portopulmonary hypertension. Portal hypertension and its severity predicts the patient‘s prognosis: as an invasive technique, the portosystemic gradient (HPVG – hepatic venous pressure gradient) measurement by hepatic veins catheterisation has remained the gold standard of its assessment. A reliable, non-invasive method to assess the severity of portal hypertension is of paramount importance; the patients with clinically significant portal hypertension have a high risk of variceal bleeding and higher mortality. Recently, non-invasive methods enabling the assessment of liver stiffness have been introduced into clinical practice in hepatology. Not only may these methods substitute for liver biopsy, but they may also be used to assess the degree of liver fibrosis and predict the severity of portal hypertension. Nowadays, we can use the quantitative elastography (transient elastography, point shear-wave elastrography, 2D-shear-wave elastography) or magnetic resonance imaging. We may also assess the severity of portal hypertension based on the non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis (i.e. ELF test) or estimate clinically signifi cant portal hypertension using composite scores (LSPS – liver spleen stiff ness score), based on liver stiffness value, spleen diameter and platelet count. Spleen stiffness measurement is a new method that needs further prospective studies. The review describes current possibilities of the non-invasive assessment of portal hypertension and its severity.

Download Full-text

The impact of direct-acting antivirals on liver fibrosis in Egyptian hepatitis C virus patients: a single center experience

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcab107.007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Nadia Abdelaaty Abdelkader ◽

Amira Mahmoud AlBalakosy ◽

Ahmed Fouad Helmy Sherief ◽

Mohamed Soliman Gado

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Transient Elastography ◽

Liver Stiffness ◽

Treatment Unit ◽

Non Invasive ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects approximately 170 million people worldwide, causing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and leading to liver transplantation and ultimately death. Accurate evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases is crucial, as liver fibrosis is important in order to make therapeutic decisions, determine prognosis of liver disease and to follow-up disease progression. Multiple non-invasive methods have been used successfully in the prediction of fibrosis; however, early changes in noninvasive biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis under effective antiviral therapy are widely unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes of transient elastography values as well as FIB-4 and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) in patients treated with DAAs. Objectives The aim beyond this study is to evaluate the changes in liver stiffness in hepatitis C Egyptian patients before and at least one year after treatment with DAAs using transient elastography and non-invasive liver fibrosis indices as FIB-4 and APRI scores. Patients and methods The present study was conducted on 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C patients attended to Ain Shams University Hospitals, Viral hepatitis treatment unit between October 2017 and December 2018, who were followed-up during treatment and after treatment for at least one year (retrospective and prospective study). Total number of cases during the study period was 117 patients. 17 patients were excluded from the study due to missed follow-up. Eventually, 100 patients were enrolled in the study fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Results The mean age of our patients is 47.9 years with Male predominance (52 males and 48 females). There was a significant improvement of, platelets counts, ALT and AST levels, which in turn cause significant improvement in FIB-4 and APRI scores. There was a significant improvement of liver stiffness after end of treatment, regardless of the DAA regimen used, as evidenced by Fibroscan. Conclusion Fibrosis regression –assessed by non-invasive markers of fibrosis is achievable upon removal of the causative agent.

Download Full-text

Role of serum M2BPGi levels in diagnosing significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcab100.085 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Marcel William Keddeas ◽

Hany Haroun Kaisar ◽

Hagar Ahmed Ahmed Elessawy ◽

Mariam Samir Abdel Hamid Elewa

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Serum Level ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

Transient Elastography ◽

Liver Stiffness ◽

Protein Glycosylation ◽

Control Group ◽

Serum Samples

Abstract Background and aim Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is a novel serum diagnostic marker for liver fibrosis in various liver diseases. We aimed to evaluate its role in assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) with reference to liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (Fibroscan). Design and Methods A case control study. 50 CHB patients with LSM by transient elastography technology and retrievable serum samples and 20 normal volunteers as a control group were recruited. Results 50 CHB patients (M: F = 30:20; mean age 43years ± 10.58) and 20 normal control volunteers (M: F = 12:8; mean age 37years ± 14.5) were recruited. The mean M2BPGi values for control group, F0-F1, F2, F3 and F4 progressively increased with more advanced stages of liver fibrosis: 0.282, 0.719, 1.322, 1.65 and 1.904 COI, respectively (p < 0.001). M2BPGi levels correlated well with liver stiffness (r = 0.911) and moderately with FIB-4 (r = 0.682), and with APRI (r = 0.536) (all p < 0.001). Using cut-off values of 0.455, 1.02, 1.16, 1.66 and 1.71COI for control, F0-F1, F2, F3 and F4 groups, respectively, the AUROCs were 0.996, 0.996, 0.691, 0.794 and 1.00 for control, F0-F1, F2, F3 and F4 groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant but with weak positive correlation between M2BPGi serum level and INR (r = 0.333, p = 0.018). And there was a statistically significant but with weak negative correlation between M2BPGi serum level and platelet count (r = -0.41, p = 0.003) and HBV DNA (r = -0.373, p = 0.008).There was a statistically significance between M2BPGi serum level and the history of varices (p = 0.023) Conclusions WFA+-M2BP is an accurate serum indicator for assessing different stages of liver fibrosis. WFA+-M2BP provides a simple and reliable alternative or complementary method to liver biopsy and FibroScan.

Download Full-text

ASSESSMENT OF LIVER FIBROSIS IN ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS BY USING FIBROSCAN IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

10.36106/ijar/2004149 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 43-47

Author(s):

Veenit Kumar Prasad ◽

Bapilal Bala ◽

Biswadev Basumazumder ◽

Achintya Narayan Ray

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Alcoholic Liver Disease ◽

Transient Elastography ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Disease Patient ◽

Liver Stiffness ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Number Of Patients

INTRODUCTION: Alcoholic liver disease is one of the major causes of premature deaths worldwide. Alcohol induced liver injury is the most prevalent cause of liver disease and effects 10% to 20% of population worldwide. Alcoholic liver disease comprises a wide spectrum of pathological changes ranging from steatosis, alcoholicsteato-hepatitis, Cirrhosis and nally hepatocellular carcinoma. Our aims in this study are to detect this change by non invasive method by liver broscan and its clinical implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 200 patients were taken for observational study, conducted at Coochbehar Government Medical college and hospital both outpatient department and indoor patients from May 2019 to January 2020. Liver stiffness was assessed by ultrasound based method of transient elastography using Fibroscan machine. Gradation of liver stiffness was expressed in kilopascals (KPa). RESULTS: Maximum number of patients of alcoholic liver disease were between 40 - 49 years of age (42.5%). Male patients is 87.5% and female patients 12.5%. distribution of Rural population is 36 % and Urban population is 64%. Majority of population85 patients (42.5%) had fatty liver and 40 patients (20%) have hepatomegaly, 41 patients (20.5%) had Coarse echotexture of liver parenchyma and 54 patients (27%) had Splenomegaly, 62 patients (31%) had Nodular liver and 62 patients. It is observed that 11 patients (5.5%) had Fibroscan score ≤7.5 and 47 patients (23.5%) had broscan score 7.6 -9.9 and 40 patients (20%) had broscan score 10-12.4, 36 patients (18 %) had broscan score 12.5 – 14.6 and 66 patients (33%) have broscan score ≥ 14.7. CONCLUSIONS: Transient Elastography (TE) is a newer non invasive assessment technique to detect the progression of brosis or brosis in alcoholic liver disease patient. Major advantage is it is noninvasive (costeffective) so that we can early detect progression of this cirrhosis and can give efforts to halt the disease progression.

Download Full-text