Comparison of liver biopsy and transient elastography based on clinical relevance

Ryota Masuzaki, Ryosuke Tateishi, Haruhiko Yoshida, Eriko Goto, Takahisa Sato, Takamasa Ohki, Tadashi Goto, Hideo Yoshida, Fumihiko Kanai, Yosuke Sugioka, Hitoshi Ikeda, Shuichiro Shiina, Takao Kawabe, Masao Omata

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography has recently been validated for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic liver diseases. The present study focused on cases in which liver biopsy and LSM were discordant. Methods: Three hundred eighty-six patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent a liver biopsy between December 2004 and April 2007 were studied. First, the optimal cut-off value of LSM was selected for the determination of cirrhosis based on the receiver operating characteristic curve. Then, the cases in which liver histology and evaluation by LSM were discordant were selected. Laboratory test results such as serum total bilirubin concentration, prothrombin activity, albumin concentration, platelet count and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, together with the presence of esophageal varices, were analyzed. Results: The optimal cut-off value was chosen to be 15.9 kPa for cirrhosis (fibrosis stage [F] 4) determination to maximize the sum of sensitivity (78.9%) and specificity (81.0%). There were 78 discordant cases: 51 patients showed an LSM of 15.9 kPa or higher and a fibrosis stage of F1 to F3 (high LSM group), and 27 patients had an LSM lower than 15.9 kPa and a fibrosis stage of F4 (low LSM group). Esophageal varices were seen in 11 patients in the high LSM group (n=51) and in no patients in the low LSM group (n=27) (P=0.0012). The aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was significantly higher in the high LSM group (1.49 versus 0.89, P=0.019). Other parameters did not differ significantly. However, platelet count, prothrombin activity and albumin concentration tended to be lower in the high LSM group. Conclusion: Patients with a high LSM need proper attention for cirrhosis, even if liver biopsy does not reveal cirrhosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)753-757
Number of pages5
JournalCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume22
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Hepatitis C
  • Liver biopsy
  • Liver fibrosis

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