Direct Comparison of US and MR Elastography for Staging Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

EASL-EASD-EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is defined as steatotic liver disease (SLD) in the presence of one or more cardiometabolic risk factor(s) and the absence of harmful alcohol intake. The spectrum of MASLD includes steatosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, previously NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and MASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This joint EASL-EASD-EASO guideline provides an update on definitions, prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment for MASLD. Case-finding strategies for MASLD with liver fibrosis, using non-invasive tests, should be applied in individuals with cardiometabolic risk factors, abnormal liver enzymes, and/or radiological signs of hepatic steatosis, particularly in the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) or obesity with additional metabolic risk factor(s). A stepwise approach using blood-based scores (such as FIB-4) and, sequentially, imaging techniques (such as transient elastography) is suitable to rule-out/in advanced fibrosis, which is predictive of liver-related outcomes. In adults with MASLD, lifestyle modification - including weight loss, dietary changes, physical exercise and discouraging alcohol consumption - as well as optimal management of comorbidities - including use of incretin-based therapies (e.g. semaglutide, tirzepatide) for T2D or obesity, if indicated - is advised. Bariatric surgery is also an option in individuals with MASLD and obesity. If locally approved and dependent on the label, adults with non-cirrhotic MASH and significant liver fibrosis (stage ≥2) should be considered for a MASH-targeted treatment with resmetirom, which demonstrated histological effectiveness on steatohepatitis and fibrosis with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. No MASH-targeted pharmacotherapy can currently be recommended for the cirrhotic stage. Management of MASH-related cirrhosis includes adaptations of metabolic drugs, nutritional counselling, surveillance for portal hypertension and HCC, as well as liver transplantation in decompensated cirrhosis.

EASL-EASD-EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is defined as steatotic liver disease (SLD) in the presence of one or more cardiometabolic risk factor(s) and the absence of harmful alcohol intake. The spectrum of MASLD includes steatosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, previously NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and MASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This joint EASL-EASD-EASO guideline provides an update on definitions, prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment for MASLD. Case-finding strategies for MASLD with liver fibrosis, using non-invasive tests, should be applied in individuals with cardiometabolic risk factors, abnormal liver enzymes, and/or radiological signs of hepatic steatosis, particularly in the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) or obesity with additional metabolic risk factor(s). A stepwise approach using blood-based scores (such as FIB-4) and, sequentially, imaging techniques (such as transient elastography) is suitable to rule-out/in advanced fibrosis, which is predictive of liver-related outcomes. In adults with MASLD, lifestyle modification - including weight loss, dietary changes, physical exercise and discouraging alcohol consumption - as well as optimal management of comorbidities - including use of incretin-based therapies (e.g. semaglutide, tirzepatide) for T2D or obesity, if indicated - is advised. Bariatric surgery is also an option in individuals with MASLD and obesity. If locally approved and dependent on the label, adults with non-cirrhotic MASH and significant liver fibrosis (stage ≥2) should be considered for a MASH-targeted treatment with resmetirom, which demonstrated histological effectiveness on steatohepatitis and fibrosis with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. No MASH-targeted pharmacotherapy can currently be recommended for the cirrhotic stage. Management of MASH-related cirrhosis includes adaptations of metabolic drugs, nutritional counselling, surveillance for portal hypertension and HCC, as well as liver transplantation in decompensated cirrhosis.

Phospholipid metabolism-related genotypes of PLA2R1 and CERS4 contribute to nonobese MASLD

BACKGROUND

Abnormal phospholipid metabolism is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) development and progression. We aimed to clarify whether genetic variants of phospholipid metabolism modify these relationships.

METHODS

This case-control study consecutively recruited 600 patients who underwent MRI-based proton density fat fraction examination (240 participants with serum metabonomics analysis, 128 biopsy-proven cases) as 3 groups: healthy control, nonobese MASLD, and obese MASLD, (n = 200 cases each). Ten variants of phospholipid metabolism-related genes [phospholipase A2 Group VII rs1805018, rs76863441, rs1421378, and rs1051931; phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) rs35771982, rs3828323, and rs3749117; paraoxonase-1 rs662 and rs854560; and ceramide synthase 4 (CERS4) rs17160348)] were genotyped using SNaPshot.

RESULTS

The T-allele of CERS4 rs17160348 was associated with a higher risk of both obese and nonobese MASLD (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.20-3.15; OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.08-2.86, respectively). PLA2R1 rs35771982-allele is a risk factor for nonobese MASLD (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.11-1.24), moderate-to-severe steatosis (OR: 3.24, 95% CI: 1.96-6.22), and steatohepatitis (OR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.15-3.87), while the paraoxonase-1 rs854560 T-allele (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26-0.97) and PLA2R1 rs3749117 C-allele (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.14-2.52) are closely related to obese MASLD. After adjusting for sphingomyelin level, the effect of the PLA2R1 rs35771982CC allele on MASLD was attenuated. Furthermore, similar effects on the association between the CERS4 rs17160348 C allele and MASLD were observed for phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylinositol.

CONCLUSIONS

The mutations in PLA2R1 rs35771982 and CERS4 rs17160348 presented detrimental impact on the risk of occurrence and disease severity in nonobese MASLD through altered phospholipid metabolism.

Mechanical properties of human hepatic tissues to develop liver-mimicking phantoms for medical applications

Using liver phantoms for mimicking human tissue in clinical training, disease diagnosis, and treatment planning is a common practice. The fabrication material of the liver phantom should exhibit mechanical properties similar to those of the real liver organ in the human body. This tissue-equivalent material is essential for qualitative and quantitative investigation of the liver mechanisms in producing nutrients, excretion of waste metabolites, and tissue deformity at mechanical stimulus. This paper reviews the mechanical properties of human hepatic tissues to develop liver-mimicking phantoms. These properties include viscosity, elasticity, acoustic impedance, sound speed, and attenuation. The advantages and disadvantages of the most common fabrication materials for developing liver tissue-mimicking phantoms are also highlighted. Such phantoms will give a better insight into the real tissue damage during the disease progression and preservation for transplantation. The liver tissue-mimicking phantom will raise the quality assurance of patient diagnostic and treatment precision and offer a definitive clinical trial data collection.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

INTRODUCTION

Approved drug therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are lacking, for which various agents are currently being tested in clinical trials. Effective drugs for liver fibrosis, the factor most associated with prognosis in NASH, are important.

AREAS COVERED

This study reviewed the treatment of NASH with a focus on the effects of existing drugs and new drugs on liver fibrosis.

EXPERT OPINION

Considering the complex pathophysiology of fibrosis in NASH, drug therapy may target multiple pathways. The method of assessing fibrosis is important when considering treatment for liver fibrosis in NASH. The Food and Drug Administration considers an important fibrosis endpoint to be histological improvement in at least one fibrosis stage while preventing worsening of fatty hepatitis. To obtain approval as a drug for NASH, efficacy needs to be demonstrated on endpoints such as liver-related events and myocardial infarction. Among the current therapeutic agents for NASH, thiazolidinedione, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α modulator have been reported to be effective against fibrosis, although further evidence is required. The effects of pan-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, obeticholic acid, and fibroblast growth factor-21 analogs on liver fibrosis in the development stage therapeutics for NASH are of particular interest.

A Comparison of the Prognostic Value of Liver Fibrosis Scores in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients With and Without Type 2 Diabetes

Liver fibrosis scores have been demonstrated to be associated with poor prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, no studies have compared the prognostic value of these scores in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with and without diabetes. We retrospectively enrolled 1576 AMI patients who underwent PCI. There were 177 all-cause deaths and 111 cardiac deaths during follow-up (median 3.8 years). The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) showed a better prognostic value than the fibrosis-8 (FIB-8) score (Harrell's C-index: 0.703 vs 0.671, P = .014) and the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score (Harrell's C-index: 0.703 vs 0.648, P < .001) in the overall population. In the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis, the NFS also had the highest area under the curve across all time points. Consistent results were observed in diabetic and non-diabetic populations. Adding the NFS to traditional cardiovascular risk factors significantly improved the prediction both for all-cause mortality (Harrell's C-index: 0.806 vs 0.771, P < .001) and cardiac death (Harrell's C-index: 0.800 vs 0.771, P = .014). The NFS showed a better prognostic value than the FIB-8 score and the FIB-4 score in patients with AMI undergoing PCI, which might be preferable for estimating the risk of mortality regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes.

Interpretation, Reporting, and Clinical Applications of Liver MR Elastography

Chronic liver disease is highly prevalent and often leads to fibrosis or cirrhosis and complications such as liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis is crucial to determine management and mitigate complications. Liver biopsy for histologic assessment has limitations such as sampling bias and high interreader variability that reduce precision, which is particularly challenging in longitudinal monitoring. MR elastography (MRE) is considered the most accurate noninvasive technique for diagnosing and staging liver fibrosis. In MRE, low-frequency vibrations are applied to the abdomen, and the propagation of shear waves through the liver is analyzed to measure liver stiffness, a biomarker for the detection and staging of liver fibrosis. As MRE has become more widely used in clinical care and research, different contexts of use have emerged. This review focuses on the latest developments in the use of MRE for the assessment of liver fibrosis; provides guidance for image acquisition and interpretation; summarizes diagnostic performance, along with thresholds for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis; discusses current and emerging clinical applications; and describes the latest technical developments.

Diagnostic performance of shear wave measurement in the detection of hepatic fibrosis: A multicenter prospective study

AIM

This study aimed to establish the shear wave measurement (SWM) cut-off value for each fibrosis stage using magnetic resonance (MR) elastography values as a reference standard.

METHODS

We prospectively analyzed 594 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent SWM and MR elastography. Correlation coefficients (were analyzed, and the diagnostic value was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Liver stiffness was categorized by MR elastography as F0 (<2.61 kPa), F1 (≥2.61 kPa, <2.97 kPa, any fibrosis), F2 (≥2.97 kPa, <3.62 kPa, significant fibrosis), F3 (≥3.62 kPa, <4.62 kPa, advanced fibrosis), or F4 (≥4.62 kPa, cirrhosis).

RESULTS

The median SWM values increased significantly with increasing fibrosis stage (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient between SWM and MR elastography values was 0.793 (95% confidence interval 0.761-0.821). The correlation coefficients between SWM and MR elastography values significantly decreased with increasing body mass index and skin-capsular distance; skin-capsular distance values were associated with significant differences in sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, or positive predictive value, whereas body mass index values were not. The best cut-off values for any fibrosis, significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis were 6.18, 7.09, 8.05, and 10.89 kPa, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This multicenter study in a large number of patients established SWM cut-off values for different degrees of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases using MR elastography as a reference standard. It is expected that these cut-off values will be applied to liver diseases in the future.

The staging of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis: A comparative study of MR elastography and the quantitative DCE-MRI exchange model

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and image processing time of the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) exchange model in liver fibrosis staging and compare it to the efficacy of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).

Methods

The subjects were 45 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who underwent MRE and DCE-MRI in our hospital. Liver biopsy results were available for all patients. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to compare the correlations among MRE, DCE-MRI and liver fibrosis parameters. Quantitative DCE-MRI parameters, MRE-derived liver stiffness measurement (LSM), and the results of a combined DCE-MRI + MRE logistic regression model were compared in terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). We also compared the scanning and postprocessing times of the MRE and DCE-MRI techniques.

Results

The correlation coefficients between the following parameters of interest and liver fibrosis were as follows: capillary permeability-surface area product (PS; DCE-MRI parameter), -0.761; portal blood flow (Fp; DCE-MRI parameter), -0.754; MRE-LSM, 0.835. Some DCE-MRI parameters (PS, Fp) had slightly greater AUC values than MRE-LSM for diagnosing the presence or absence of liver fibrosis, and the combined model had the highest AUC value for all stages except F4, but there was no significant difference in the diagnostic efficacy of the DCE-MRI, MRE, and combined models for any stage of fibrosis. The average scanning times for MRE and DCE-MRI were 17 s and 330 s, respectively, and the average postprocessing times were 45.5 s and 342.7 s, respectively.

Conclusions

In the absence of MRE equipment, DCE-MRI represents an alternative technique. However, MRE is a quicker and simpler method for assessing fibrosis than DCE-MRI in the clinic.

Integrin-Targeted Theranostic Nanoparticles for Clinical MRI-Traceable Treatment of Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is the critical stage in the development of chronic liver disease (CLD), from simple injury to irreversible cirrhosis. Timely detection and intervention of liver fibrosis are crucial for preventing CLD from progressing into a fatal condition. Herein, we developed iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (IONPs) and ferulic acid (FA) coencapsulated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs), followed by surface modification with cRGD peptides (cRGD-PLGA/IOFA) for integrin-targeted clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-traceable treatment of liver fibrosis. The cRGD peptide linked on the surface of the PLGA/IOFA NPs could specifically bind to the overexpressed integrin αvβ3 on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the fibrotic liver, enabling the high-sensitive clinical MR imaging (3 T) and precise staging of liver fibrosis. The FA encapsulated in cRGD-PLGA/IOFA showed excellent efficacy in reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting the activation of HSCs through the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway. Notably, the IONPs encapsulated in cRGD-PLGA/IOFA NPs could alleviate liver fibrosis by regulating hepatic macrophages through the NF-κB pathway, lowering the proportion of Ly6Chigh/CD86+, and degrading collagen fibers. The FA and IONPs in the cRGD-PLGA/IOFA produced a synergistic enhancement effect on collagen degradation, which was more effective than the IONPs treatment alone. This study demonstrates that cRGD-PLGA/IOFA NPs could effectively relieve liver fibrosis by acting on macrophages and HSCs and provide a new strategy for the clinical MRI-traceable treatment of liver fibrosis.

Palm-Sized Wireless Transient Elastography System with Real-Time B-Mode Ultrasound Imaging Guidance: Toward Point-of-Care Liver Fibrosis Assessment

Transient elastography (TE), recommended by the WHO, is an established method for characterizing liver fibrosis via liver stiffness measurement (LSM). However, technical barriers remain towards point-of-care application, as conventional TE requires wired connections, possesses a bulky size, and lacks adequate imaging guidance for precise liver localization. In this work, we report the design, phantom validation, and clinical evaluation of a palm-sized TE system that enables simultaneous B-mode imaging and LSM. The performance of this system was validated experimentally using tissue-equivalent reference phantoms (1.45-75 kPa). Comparative studies against other liver elastography techniques, including conventional TE and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), were performed to evaluate its reliability and validity in adults with various chronic liver diseases. Intra- and inter-operator reliability of LSM were established by an elastography expert and a novice. A good agreement was observed between the Young's modulus reported by the phantom manufacturer and this system (bias: 1.1-8.6%). Among 121 patients, liver stiffness measured by this system and conventional TE were highly correlated (r = 0.975) and strongly agreed with each other (mean difference: -0.77 kPa). Inter-correlation of this system with conventional TE and 2D-SWE was observed. Excellent-to-good operator reliability was demonstrated in 60 patients (ICCs: 0.824-0.913). We demonstrated the feasibility of employing a fully integrated phased array probe for reliable and valid LSM, guided by real-time B-mode imaging of liver anatomy. This system represents the first technical advancement toward point-of-care liver fibrosis assessment. Its small footprint, along with B-mode guidance capability, improves examination efficiency and scales up screening for liver fibrosis.

Evaluating the Elasticity of Metastatic Cervical Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Using DWI-based Virtual MR Elastography

PURPOSE

The assessment of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients is crucial; as such, many studies focusing on non-invasive imaging techniques to evaluate metastatic cervical lymph nodes have been performed. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of elasticity values on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)-based virtual MR elastography in the evaluation of metastatic cervical lymph nodes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS

Two head and neck radiologists measured the elasticity values of 16 metastatic cervical lymph nodes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and 13 benign cervical lymph nodes on DWI-based virtual MR elastography maps. Mean, minimum, maximum, and median elasticity values were evaluated for lymph nodes between the two groups and interobserver agreement in measuring the elasticity was also evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean, maximum, and median elasticity values of metastatic cervical lymph nodes were significantly higher than those of benign cervical lymph nodes (P = 0.001, 0.01, and 0.002, respectively). Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the mean elasticity were 82.8%, 93.8%, and 69.2%, respectively. Interobserver agreement was excellent for the mean and median elasticity (intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.98 for both).

CONCLUSION

Estimated elasticity values based on DWI-based virtual MR elastography show significant difference between benign and metastatic cervical lymph nodes from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. While precise modulation of MR sequences and calibration parameters still needs to be established, elasticity values can be useful in differentiating between these lymph nodes.

Prediction of outcomes in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease based on initial measurements and subsequent changes in magnetic resonance elastography

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is strongly associated with liver fibrosis. We aimed to investigate whether liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and changes in LSM (ΔLSM) on magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) can predict clinical events in patients with MASLD.

METHODS

We included 405 patients with MASLD who underwent at least two MREs. The patients were divided into five groups corresponding to fibrosis stages (0-4) based on initial LSM and classified as progressors (ΔLSM ≥ 19%) or non-progressors (ΔLSM < 19%) based on the difference between the first and last LSM.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 72.6 months, and the mean interval between MREs was 23.5 months. There were 52 (12.8%) progressors and 353 (87.2%) non-progressors. The initial LSM was significantly associated with the cumulative probabilities of decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver-related events, extrahepatic malignancies, and overall mortality but not with cardiovascular disease. Progressors had significantly higher hazard ratios (HRs) for decompensated cirrhosis, HCC, and liver-related events but not for extrahepatic malignancies, cardiovascular disease, or overall mortality. Among patients without cirrhosis, the HR for developing cirrhosis among progressors was 60.15. Progressors had a significantly higher risk of liver-related events, even in the low initial LSM (fibrosis stage 0-2) subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both initial LSM and ΔLSM can predict liver-related events in patients with MASLD, even for low initial LSM. This integrated assessment can allow more detailed risk stratification compared with single LSM assessments and identify high-risk patients with MASLD among those previously considered as low risk.

Shear Wave Elastography for Assessing Liver Stiffness in HCV-Infected Kidney Transplant Recipients after Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment: A Comparative Study with Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to hepatic fibrosis. The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has substantially improved sustained virological response (SVR) rates. In this context, kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are of particular interest due to their higher HCV infection rates and uncertain renal excretion and bioavailability of DAAs. We investigated liver stiffness after DAA treatment in 15 HCV-infected KTRs using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) in comparison with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). KTRs were treated with DAAs (daclatasvir and sofosbuvir) for three months and underwent SWE at baseline, end of therapy (EOT), and 3 (EOT+3) and 12 months (EOT+12) after EOT. Fourteen patients achieved SVR12. Shear wave speed (SWS)-as a surrogate parameter for tissue stiffness-was substantially lower at all three post-therapeutic timepoints compared with baseline (EOT: -0.42 m/s, p < 0.01; CI = -0.75--0.09, EOT+3: -0.43 m/s, p < 0.01; CI = -0.75--0.11, and EOT+12: -0.52 m/s, p < 0.001; CI = -0.84--0.19), suggesting liver regeneration after viral eradication and end of inflammation. Baseline SWS correlated positively with histopathological fibrosis scores (r = 0.48; CI = -0.11-0.85). Longitudinal results correlated moderately with APRI (r = 0.41; CI = 0.12-0.64) but not with FIB-4 scores (r = 0.12; CI = -0.19-0.41). Although higher on average, SWE-derived measurements correlated strongly with MRE (r = 0.64). In conclusion, SWE is suitable for non-invasive therapy monitoring in KTRs with HCV infection.

Identification of High-Risk Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Endocrinology Clinics

The twin epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to increase worldwide, so does the associated chronic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although NAFLD has been thought of as a benign liver disease, current evidence suggests that it is a complex liver disease that, for approximately 20% of patients, can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant, and death. It is important to note that, given NAFLD's association with metabolic syndrome, the number one cause of death among those with NAFLD is related to cardiovascular diseases. In addition, NAFLD is associated with impaired patient-reported outcomes and a significant economic burden. As such, efforts are now aimed at using noninvasive tests (NITs) to identify patients with NAFLD and those who are at risk of liver disease progression and adverse outcomes in endocrinology practices whereby appropriate risk stratification and referrals can be undertaken. In this review, we discuss the most common NITs used and provide a simple clinically relevant algorithm using these NITs to identify patients with NAFLD who are at risk of adverse outcomes and subsequent clinical management and referral.

AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Role of Noninvasive Biomarkers in the Evaluation and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Expert Review

DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Practice Update Expert Review is to provide clinicians with guidance on the use of noninvasive tests (NITs) in the evaluation and management of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD affects nearly 30% of the global population and is a growing cause of end-stage liver disease and liver-related health care resource utilization. However, only a minority of all patients with NAFLD experience a liver-related outcome. It is therefore critically important for clinicians to assess prognosis and identify those with increased risk of disease progression and negative clinical outcomes at the time of initial assessment. It is equally important to assess disease trajectory over time, particularly in response to currently available therapeutic approaches. The reference standard for assessment of prognosis and disease monitoring is histologic examination of liver biopsy specimens. There are, however, many limitations of liver biopsies and their reading that have limited their use in routine practice. The utilization of NITs facilitates risk stratification of patients and longitudinal assessment of disease progression for patients with NAFLD. This clinical update provides best practice advice based on a review of the literature on the utilization of NITs in the management of NAFLD for clinicians. Accordingly, a combination of available evidence and consensus-based expert opinion, without formal rating of the strength and quality of the evidence, was used to develop these best practice advice statements.

METHODS

This Expert Review was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership and underwent internal peer review by the Clinical Practice Updates Committee and external peer review through standard procedures of Gastroenterology. These best practice advice statements were drawn from a review of the published literature and from expert opinion. Because systematic reviews were not performed, these best practice advice statements do not carry formal ratings of the quality of evidence or strength of the presented considerations. Best Practice Advice Statements BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 1: NITs can be used for risk stratification in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with NAFLD. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 2: A Fibrosis 4 Index score <1.3 is associated with strong negative predictive value for advanced hepatic fibrosis and may be useful for exclusion of advanced hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 3: A combination of 2 or more NITs combining serum biomarkers and/or imaging-based biomarkers is preferred for staging and risk stratification of patients with NAFLD whose Fibrosis 4 Index score is >1.3. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 4: Use of NITs in accordance with manufacturer's specifications (eg, not in patients with ascites or pacemakers) can minimize risk of discordant results and adverse events. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 5: NITs should be interpreted with context and consideration of pertinent clinical data (eg, physical examination, biochemical, radiographic, and endoscopic) to optimize positive predictive value in the identification of patients with advanced fibrosis. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 6: Liver biopsy should be considered for patients with NIT results that are indeterminate or discordant; conflict with other clinical, laboratory, or radiologic findings; or when alternative etiologies for liver disease are suspected. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 7: Serial longitudinal monitoring using NITs for assessment of disease progression or regression may inform clinical management (ie, response to lifestyle modification or therapeutic intervention). BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 8: Patients with NAFLD and NITs results suggestive of advanced fibrosis (F3) or cirrhosis (F4) should be considered for surveillance of liver complications (eg, hepatocellular carcinoma screening and variceal screening per Baveno criteria). Patients with NAFLD and NITs suggestive of advanced hepatic fibrosis (F3) or (F4), should be monitored with serial liver stiffness measurement; vibration controlled transient elastography; or magnetic resonance elastography, given its correlation with clinically significant portal hypertension and clinical decompensation.

M-PAST score is better than MAST score for the diagnosis of active fibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials enroll patients with active fibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] activity score ≥ 4) and significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2); however, screening failure rates are high following biopsy. We developed new scores to identify active fibrotic NASH using FibroScan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

We undertook prospective primary (n = 176), retrospective validation (n = 169), and University of California San Diego (UCSD; n = 234) studies of liver biopsy-proven NAFLD. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using FibroScan or magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), or proton density fat fraction (PDFF), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were combined to develop a two-step strategy-FibroScan-based LSM followed by CAP with AST (F-CAST) and MRE-based LSM followed by PDFF with AST (M-PAST)-and compared with FibroScan-AST (FAST) and MRI-AST (MAST) for diagnosing active fibrotic NASH. Each model was categorized using rule-in and rule-out criteria.

RESULTS

Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of F-CAST (0.826) and M-PAST (0.832) were significantly higher than those of FAST (0.744, p = 0.004) and MAST (0.710, p < 0.001). Following the rule-in criteria, positive predictive values of F-CAST (81.8%) and M-PAST (81.8%) were higher than those of FAST (73.5%) and MAST (70.0%). Following the rule-out criteria, negative predictive values of F-CAST (90.5%) and M-PAST (90.9%) were higher than those of FAST (84.0%) and MAST (73.9%). In the validation and UCSD cohorts, AUROCs did not differ significantly between F-CAST and FAST, but M-PAST had a higher diagnostic performance than MAST.

CONCLUSIONS

The two-step strategy, especially M-PAST, showed reliability of rule-in/-out for active fibrotic NASH, with better predictive performance compared with MAST. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number, UMIN000012757).

Diagnostic Performance of Noninvasive Tests for Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis in Young Age Population

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Most noninvasive tests (NITs) for hepatic fibrosis are designed for middle-aged patients with chronic liver disease. We compared the diagnostic performance of major NITs (aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index [APRI], Fibrosis-4 index, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score) for a community-based cohort.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study analyzed 8775 participants who underwent magnetic resonance elastography at community health check-up centers. Advanced hepatic fibrosis (≥F3) was defined by magnetic resonance elastography thresholds of 3.6 kPa. The diagnostic performance of 3 NITs was evaluated according to the etiology of liver disease, sex, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and increased aminotransferase levels in 4 age groups.

RESULTS

The APRI generally showed the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in patients aged 45 years or younger, and it was statistically significant in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and alcoholic fatty liver disease (P < .043). The best APRI cut-off value for detecting advanced hepatic fibrosis was 0.4, with a sensitivity and specificity of 75.8% and 73.5%, respectively, in the community-based cohort. The APRI showed balanced sensitivity and specificity across all age groups, whereas the other metrics showed low sensitivity in those aged <45 and low specificity in those >65 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The APRI showed better sensitivity and negative predictive value than the Fibrosis-4 index and the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score in community-based populations with mixed etiology, and, thus, can be performed as the primary test in young adults (age, ≤45 y).

Prediction of Liver-Related Events With a Combination of Liver Stiffness Measurements and Controlled Attenuation Parameters in Japanese Patients With Biopsy-Proven Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

OBJECTIVE

Liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) and controlled attenuation parameters (CAPs) obtained using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) are recognized non-invasive methods of assessing liver histology. The usefulness of CAP for predicting liver-related events (LREs: hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensation, bleeding varices) is not well understood worldwide. Our aim was to re-evaluate the cutoff values of LSM/CAP in Japan and to examine whether LSM/CAP can predict LRE.

METHODS

Japanese NAFLD patients (n = 403) who underwent both liver biopsy and VCTE were enrolled. We determined optimal cutoff values of LSM/CAP diagnoses for fibrosis stage and steatosis grade and investigated their clinical outcome based on LSM/CAP values.

RESULTS

The LSM cutoff values for F1 to F4 are 7.1, 7.9, 10.0 and 20.2 kPa, and the CAP cutoff values for S1 to S3 are 230, 282 and 320 dB/m. During a median follow-up of 2.7 y (range: 0.0-12.5 y), 11 patients developed LREs. The incidence of LREs in the LSM Hi (≥8.7) group was significantly higher than that in the LSM Lo (<8.7) group (p = 0.003), and the incidence in the CAP Lo (<295) group was higher than that in CAP Hi (≥295) group (p = 0.018). Considering LSM and CAP together, the risk of LRE was higher in the LSM Hi CAP Lo group than in the LSM Hi CAP Hi group (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

We set LSM/CAP cutoff values to diagnose liver fibrosis and steatosis in Japan. Our study determined that NAFLD patients with high LSM and low CAP values are at high risk for LREs.

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance-Based Elastography and Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography in Patients With Suspicion of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the correlation between magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) in patients with clinically diagnosed or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Subjects with or at risk of NAFLD identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proton density fat fraction (PDFF) were prospectively enrolled. For each patient, 6 valid 2-dimensional SWE measurements were acquired using a Logiq E10 scanner (GE HealthCare, Waukesha, WI). A reliability criterion of an interquartile range to median ratio of ≤15% was used for SWE to indicate quality dataset. Magnetic resonance elastography, and MR-fat quantification data were collected the same day as part of the patient's clinical standard of care. Magnetic resonance imaging PDFF was used as a reference to quantify fat with >6.4% indicating NAFLD. Pearson correlation and t-test were performed for statistical analyses. A total of 140 patients were enrolled, 112 of which met SWE reliability measurement criteria. Magnetic resonance elastography and 2-dimensional SWE showed a positive correlation across all study subjects ( r = 0.27; P = 0.004). When patients were grouped according to steatosis and fibrosis state, a positive correlation was observed between MRE and SWE in patients with fibrosis ( r = 0.30; P = 0.03), without fibrosis ( r = 0.27; P = 0.03), and with NAFLD ( r = 0.28; P = 0.02). No elastography technique correlated with liver fat quantification ( P > 0.52). Magnetic resonance elastography was significantly different between patients with and without fibrosis ( P < 0.0001). However, this difference was not apparent with SWE ( P = 0.09). In patients with suspected or known NAFLD, MRE, and SWE demonstrated a positive correlation. In addition, these noninvasive imaging modalities may be useful adjunct techniques for monitoring NAFLD.

Noninvasive Tests Used in Risk Stratification of Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

As the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes increases around the world, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has grown proportionately. Although most patients with NAFLD do not experience progressive liver disease, about 15% to 20% of those with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis can and do progress. Because liver biopsy's role in NAFLD has become increasingly limited, efforts have been undertaken to develop non-invasive tests (NITs) to help identify patients at high risk of progression. The following article discusses the NITs that are available to determine the presence of NAFLD as well as high-risk NAFLD.

Clinical application of Magnetic resonance elastography in hepatocellular carcinoma: from diagnosis to prognosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and a major public health problem worldwide. Liver fibrosis is closely correlated with liver functional reserve and the risk of HCC development. Meanwhile, malignant tumors generally have high cellularity compared to benign tumors, which results in increased stiffness. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has emerged as a new non-invasive technique for assessing tissue stiffness with excellent diagnostic accuracy, not only for assessing liver fibrosis but also for measuring tumor stiffness. Recent studies provide new evidence that MRE may play an important role in the management of patients with HCC and show several novel clinical applications, such as predicting the development of HCC, differentiating between benign/malignant liver lesions (FLL) and HCC pathological grades, assessing treatment response, and predicting recurrence after treatment, although some findings are controversial. Therefore, we conducted this review to summarize these novel applications of MRE in HCC patients and also discuss their limitations and future advancement.

Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Two-Step Strategy is Better than Baveno Criteria

BACKGROUND

Advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis (compensated advanced chronic liver disease [cACLD]) are clinically indistinguishable and increase risk of developing clinically significant portal hypertension. Baveno VII recommends using elastography to rule out and diagnose cACLD with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) cut-offs of 10/15 kPa.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis of 330 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, performance of the Baveno VII cut-offs for diagnosing cACLD was compared with newly suggested lower cut-offs (8/12 kPa). A model for detecting cACLD among those with LSM between 8 and 12 kPa was developed and compared with recently published models.

RESULTS

Seventy (21.2%) of the 330 NAFLD patients had biopsy-proven cACLD. The Baveno VII cut-offs (10/15 kPa) had a lower sensitivity of 72.8% (60.9-82.8%) and a specificity of 93.4% (89.7-96.1%). Sensitivity and specificity of lower cut-offs (8/12 kPa) were 91.4% (82.3-96.8%) and 88.5% (83.9-92.1%), respectively. Modeling based on the presence of diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 3.625[1.161-11.320], p = 0.027) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (OR 1.636[1.098-2.436], p = 0.015) correctly identified 75.7% of patients with LSM between 8 and 12 kPa. Our model performed best with an area under receiver operator curve (AUROC) of 0.725 (95%CI 0.609-0.822), compared to Papatheodoridi (AUROC 0.626, CI 0.506-.736) and Zhou (AUROC 0.523, CI 0.403-0.640) models. A two-step strategy comprising application of lower LSM cut-offs followed by the predictive model correctly identified the presence of cACLD in 83% of the patients as compared to 75% by the Baveno VII cut-offs.

CONCLUSION

A two-step strategy employing lower LSM cut-offs and modeling based on diabetes and AST levels outperforms Baveno VII cut-offs for identifying cACLD in NAFLD patients.

Magnetic resonance elastography in evaluation of liver fibrosis in children with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has been used to stage liver fibrosis in adults. We aimed to assess the agreement between the Ishak scoring system and magnetic resonance elastography-measured liver stiffness (MRE-LS) in children. This study included all the children who underwent abdominal MRE and liver biopsies between February 2018 and January 2021. The correlation between MRE-LS and Ishak fibrosis stage, MRE parameters, and clinical and biochemical markers affecting this relationship was investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients (31 male; a median age of 11.8 years) were included in the study. The MRE-LS values were significantly different between Ishak fibrosis stages (p = 0.036). With a cut-off value of 2.97 kilopascals, MRE-LS had sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy values of 90.9%, 82.9%, 58.8%, 97.1%, and 84.6%, respectively, for differentiating mild/moderate fibrosis (F0, 1, 2, 3) from severe fibrosis (F ≥ 4). Although MRE-LS was moderately correlated with Ishak fibrosis score and histological activity index and weakly correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, hepatic steatosis, and R2*, only Ishak fibrosis score was a significant predictor of MRE-LS. MRE-measured spleen stiffness was weakly correlated with the Ishak fibrosis score.

CONCLUSIONS

MRE has high sensitivity and specificity for evaluating liver fibrosis in children. MRE may be used to evaluate liver fibrosis in pediatric patients.

Noninvasive imaging biomarkers for liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: current and future

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent worldwide and becoming a major cause of liver disease-related morbidity and mortality. The presence of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD is closely related to prognosis, including the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and other complications of cirrhosis. Therefore, assessment of the presence of significant or advanced liver fibrosis is crucial. Although liver biopsy has been considered the "gold standard" method for evaluating the degree of liver fibrosis, it is not suitable for extensive use in all patients with NAFLD owing to its invasiveness and high cost. Therefore, noninvasive biochemical and imaging biomarkers have been developed to overcome the limitations of liver biopsy. Imaging biomarkers for the stratification of liver fibrosis have been evaluated in patients with NAFLD using different imaging techniques, such as transient elastography, shear wave elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography. Furthermore, artificial intelligence and deep learning methods are increasingly being applied to improve the diagnostic accuracy of imaging techniques and overcome the pitfalls of existing imaging biomarkers. In this review, we describe the usefulness and future prospects of noninvasive imaging biomarkers that have been studied and used to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

The Past, Present, and Future of Noninvasive Test in Chronic Liver Diseases

Chronic liver disease is a major global health threat and is the 11th leading cause of death globally. A liver biopsy is frequently required in assessing the degree of steatosis and fibrosis, information that is important in diagnosis, management, and prognostication. However, liver biopsies have limitations and carry a considerable risk, leading to the development of various modalities of noninvasive testing tools. These tools have been developed in recent years and have improved markedly in diagnostic accuracy. Moving forward, they may change the practice of hepatology.

Comparative accuracy of endosonographic shear wave elastography and transcutaneous liver stiffness measurement: a pilot study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is a validated test for assessing liver fibrosis but may be unreliable in select patients, including those with morbid obesity. The limitations of VCTE may be overcome by EUS-guided shear wave elastography (EUS-SWE).

METHODS

This single-center, prospective, nonrandomized tandem study compared the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-SWE and VCTE in consecutive patients undergoing liver biopsy sampling because of unreliable noninvasive testing. EUS-SWE of the left and right lobes were separately performed and then compared with VCTE. Liver elasticity cutoffs for different stages of fibrosis were estimated in 3 ways: optimized sensitivity and specificity using the Youden index; and with sensitivity and specificity fixed at 90% each, Diagnostic accuracy for fibrosis was compared with liver histology using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC). The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-SWE for advanced fibrosis. Secondary outcomes were diagnostic accuracy of VCTE, EUS-SWE for left and right hepatic lobes for significant/advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients (39 men, aged 54.5 ± 12.1 years) underwent EUS-SWE, VCTE, and liver biopsy sampling. The cross-validated AUROCs for advanced fibrosis were as follows: VCTE, .87 (95% confidence interval [CI], .76-.97); EUS-SWE left lobe, .8 (95% CI, .64-.96); and EUS-SWE right lobe, .78 (95% CI, .62-.95). The corresponding AUROCs for cirrhosis were as follows: VCTE, .9 (95% CI, .83-.97); EUS-SWE left lobe, .96 (95% CI, .9-1); and EUS-SWE right lobe, .9 (95% CI, .8-1). VCTE was unreliable in 8 patients who successfully underwent EUS-SWE. There was no statistically significant difference in the AUROCs for EUS-SWE and VCTE.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-SWE correlates well with liver histology and is a safe and reliable diagnostic test for assessing liver fibrosis with accuracy comparable with VCTE. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT04533932.).

SWOT analysis of noninvasive tests for diagnosing NAFLD with severe fibrosis: an expert review by the JANIT Forum

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of NAFLD can progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, the prognosis of NAFLD/NASH has been reported to be dependent on liver fibrosis degree. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard, but it has several issues that must be addressed, including its invasiveness, cost, and inter-observer diagnosis variability. To solve these issues, a variety of noninvasive tests (NITs) have been in development for the assessment of NAFLD progression, including blood biomarkers and imaging methods, although the use of NITs varies around the world. The aim of the Japan NASH NIT (JANIT) Forum organized in 2020 is to advance the development of various NITs to assess disease severity and/or response to treatment in NAFLD patients from a scientific perspective through multi-stakeholder dialogue with open innovation, including clinicians with expertise in NAFLD/NASH, companies that develop medical devices and biomarkers, and professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to conventional NITs, artificial intelligence will soon be deployed in many areas of the NAFLD landscape. To discuss the characteristics of each NIT, we conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis in this study with the 36 JANIT Forum members (16 physicians and 20 company representatives). Based on this SWOT analysis, the JANIT Forum identified currently available NITs able to accurately select NAFLD patients at high risk of NASH for HCC surveillance/therapeutic intervention and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Diagnostic comparison of vibration-controlled transient elastography and MRI techniques in overweight and obese patients with NAFLD

Non-invasive imaging techniques have greatly advanced the assessment of liver fibrosis and steatosis but are not fully evaluated in overweight patients. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to assess fibrosis and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and MR imaging (MRI)-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) to assess steatosis in overweight and obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We included 163 biopsy-proven patients with NAFLD who underwent VCTE, MRE/MRI-PDFF, and liver biopsy (years 2014-2020) who were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) as normal (BMI < 25 kg/m², n = 38), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m², n = 68), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², n = 57). VCTE and MRE detected fibrosis of stages ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and 4 with an area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of 0.83-0.94 (VCTE) and 0.85-0.95 (MRE) in all groups, without considerable differences. MRI-PDFF detected steatosis of grades ≥ 2 and 3 with high AUROC in all groups (0.81-1.00). CAP's diagnostic ability (0.63-0.95) was lower than that of MRI-PDFF and decreased with increasing BMI compared to MRI-PDFF. VCTE and MRE similarly accurately assess fibrosis, although MRI-PDFF is more accurate than CAP in detecting steatosis in overweight and obese patients with NAFLD.

Reappraisal of fibrosis-4 index and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score for advanced fibrosis in average-risk population

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The current cut-offs for fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) are suboptimal for screening because of low accuracy and high false-negative rates in average-risk populations. This study aimed to reappraisal the performance of FIB-4 and NFS in such average-risk populations.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study, which retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) data of 8,522 subjects. Individuals with history of significant alcohol consumption and those with positive viral serologic markers were excluded. Finally, 6,215 average-risk individuals were analyzed.

RESULTS

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of FIB-4 for the diagnosis of advanced hepatic fibrosis was higher than that in the NFS especially in the metabolically healthy. The AUROCs of FIB-4 for in the average-risk population was also higher than that in the NFS (0.840 in FIB-4 vs. 0.798, P = 0.036). However, the sensitivity of FIB-4 and NFS was low (69.6 and 61.4%, respectively) in applying the current cut-off of FIB-4 [1.3 (2.0)] and NFS [-1.455 (0.12)]. At cut-off of FIB-4 at 1.0, sensitivity (90.2%), and negative predictive value (99.7%) were improved.

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic performance of FIB-4 was better than that of NFS for screening hepatic fibrosis in average-risk populations. It is recommended to use FIB-4 rather than NFS, when screening for hepatic fibrosis in general population.

Accuracy of Ultrasonography vs. Elastography in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review

Ultrasonography and elastography are the most widely used imaging modalities for diagnosing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study aimed to assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search was done for the past seven years using Pubmed, Pubmed Central, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases on Jun 29, 2022. Studies were included based on the following predefined criteria: observational studies, randomized controlled trial (RCT), comparative studies, studies using liver biopsy or MRI proton density fat fraction (MRI PDFF) as a reference standard, ultrasonography, and elastography with measures of their diagnostic accuracy like sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, and English language. The data were extracted on a predefined template. The final twelve eligible studies were assessed using the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy tool (QUADS-2). Most studies focused on elastography techniques, and the remaining focused on quantitative ultrasonography methods like the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and attenuation coefficient (AC). Only one study was available for the evaluation of qualitative ultrasonography. MRI was generally found superior to other diagnostic tests for determining liver stiffness through magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and steatosis through MRI PDFF. Data assessing the comparative diagnostic accuracy of the two tests were inconclusive.

Ultrasound-Based Hepatic Elastography in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Focus on Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease and is the hepatic expression of metabolic syndrome. The development of non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis and advanced fibrosis in high-risk patients, especially those with type 2 diabetes mellitus, is highly needed to replace the invasive method of liver biopsy. Elastographic methods can bring significant added value to screening and diagnostic procedures for NAFLD in patients with diabetes, thus contributing to improved NAFLD management. Pharmacological development and forthcoming therapeutic measures that address NAFLD should also be based on new, non-invasive, and reliable tools that assess NAFLD in at-risk patients and be able to properly guide treatment in individuals with both diabetes and NAFLD. This is the first review aiming to outline and discuss recent studies on ultrasound-based hepatic elastography, focusing on NAFLD assessment in patients with diabetes.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis belongs to the spectrum of metabolic-associated fatty liver diseases characterized by steatosis linked to obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia and immune-mediated disorders. The main features of MAFLD include high prevalence, heterogeneity, complexity and dynamic disease. Pruritus and asthenia are the main clinical manifestation that impact on quality of life and patient-reported outcomes. Biochemical or imagen-based non-invasive test have been implemented in the diagnostic process. Liver biopsy remains as the gold standard. Therapeutic options included life-style intervention. Mediterranean hypocaloric Diet to lose weight, exercise to fight sarcopenia and alcohol abstinence. In non-responders, drug-therapy focusing on obesity, diabetes and fibrosis using sequentially or combined to promote steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis regression.

Association between Dietary Pattern, Nutritional Status, Metabolic Factors, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be harmful to the body to varying degrees, and over a prolonged period, patients may develop steatotic cirrhosis or even develop liver cancer based on cirrhosis. Moreover, its harms are related to its severity. Patients with severe steatosis develop hepatocyte destruction, transaminase abnormalities, and long-term progression to steatotic cirrhosis, or even liver cancer, which should be treated aggressively. In order to provide theoretical basis for the prevention and early intervention of NAFLD, we analysis the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and dietary pattern, nutritional status, metabolic factor A total of 517 participants (200 males and 317 females) recruited in this study were gained from the health check center of The Ningbo Seventh Hospital, Ningbo, China, from September 2018 to August 2019. Patients diagnosed with NAFLD were selected as the study subjects. The data on the dietary pattern, nutritional status, and metabolic factors were collected for further analysis. A total of 517 eligible participants (317 females and 200 males) were involved in this study, with a mean age of 54.7 ± 16.7 years. Dessert and fruit diet, healthy dietary pattern, animal food dietary pattern, high salt diet mode, triglyceride, uric acid, adiponectin, and waist-hip ratio were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). Dietary patterns, nutritional status, metabolic factors, and NAFLD are correlated. Furthermore, applying this correlation law can better manage NAFLD patients.

Changing clinical management of NAFLD in Asia

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease, affecting approximately 25% of the world's population. Recently, because of the sedentary lifestyle and overnutrition resulting from urbanisation, the burden of NAFLD has rapidly increased in many Asian countries. Currently, the prevalence of NAFLD in Asia is approximately 30%, as is the case in many Western countries. In Asia, the prevalence and presentation of NAFLD vary widely across regions because of the substantial diversity in race, socioeconomic status and living environment. Furthermore, the dual aetiology of fatty liver, particularly with viral hepatitis in Asia, makes it complex and challenging to manage. Because Asians are likely to have central adiposity and insulin resistance, approximately 7%-20% of non-obese Asians with body mass indexes of less than 25 kg/m² are estimated to have NAFLD. Accumulating evidence indicates that NAFLD is associated with various extrahepatic comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, malignancy, in addition to liver-specific complications. Therefore, NAFLD should be managed as a multisystem disease in conjunction with metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle modification remains the basis of NAFLD management, but few patients can achieve adequate weight loss and maintain it long term. While various pharmacological agents are in phase 3 trials for steatohepatitis, Asian patients are underrepresented in most trials. This article reviews the epidemiological trends, clinical features, optimal assessment and current management practices for NAFLD in Asia.

Combination of tofogliflozin and pioglitazone for NAFLD: Extension to the ToPiND randomized controlled trial

The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently increased and is related to obesity and the associated surge in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndromes. This trial follows up on our previous work and forms part of the ToPiND study. We aimed to combine tofogliflozin and pioglitazone treatment for hepatic steatosis in patients with NAFLD and T2DM. In this open‐label, prospective, single‐center, randomized clinical trial, patients with NAFLD with T2DM and a hepatic fat fraction of ≥10% were assessed based on magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction. Eligible patients received either 20 mg tofogliflozin or 15–30 mg pioglitazone orally, once daily for 24 weeks, followed by combination therapy with both medicines for an additional 24 weeks. The effects on diabetes mellitus and hepatic steatosis were examined at baseline and after the completion of monotherapy and combination therapy. Thirty‐two eligible patients received the combination therapy of tofogliflozin and pioglitazone. The combination therapy showed additional improvement in glycated hemoglobin compared with each monotherapy group and showed improvement in steatosis, hepatic stiffness, and alanine aminotransferase levels compared with the tofogliflozin monotherapy group. Pioglitazone monotherapy–mediated increase in body weight decreased following concomitant use of tofogliflozin. The combination therapy resulted in lower triglyceride, higher high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher adiponectin, and higher ketone body levels. Conclusion: In addition to the additive effects of tofogliflozin and pioglitazone in patients with T2DM and NAFLD, combination therapy was suggested to reduce weight gain and induce cardioprotective effect. Further studies with more patients are needed to investigate the combination therapy of various drugs.

Clinical utility of two-dimensional shear-wave elastography in monitoring disease course in autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis overlap syndrome

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis (AIH-PBC) overlap syndrome has a worse prognosis than AIH or PBC alone. Therefore, accurately staging liver fibrosis and dynamically monitoring disease progression are essential.

AIM

To investigate the performance of two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) for noninvasively staging liver fibrosis and assessing the clinical utility of repeated 2D-SWE for monitoring treatment response in AIH-PBC overlap syndrome.

METHODS

A total of 148 patients diagnosed with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome were retrospectively enrolled. Among them, 82 patients had a 2D-SWE follow-up time of more than 1 year. The Scheuer scoring system was used to evaluate stages of hepatic inflammation and liver fibrosis. The performance of 2D-SWE for staging liver fibrosis was evaluated with the liver biopsy. Changes in liver stiffness (LS) measured by 2D-SWE in patients with or without complete biochemical remission were evaluated.

RESULTS

LS value was strongly correlated with liver fibrosis stage (Spearman r = 0.84, P < 0.0001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of LS for diagnosing significant fibrosis (≥ S2), severe fibrosis (≥ S3), and cirrhosis (S4) were 0.91, 0.97, and 0.96, respectively. Patients with complete biochemical remission had a considerable decrease in LS values (P < 0.0001). More importantly, the declined LS in patients with S0-S2 was significantly lower than that in patients with S3-S4 (P = 0.0002). In contrast, patients who failed to achieve biochemical remission had a slight but not significant decrease in LS (P = 0.37).

CONCLUSION

LS measured by 2D-SWE is an accurate and reliable method in assessing liver fibrosis, especially for diagnosing severe fibrosis (≥ 3) and monitoring treatment response in patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome.

Non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis assessment in patients with chronic liver diseases: a prospective study

There is an urgent need of non-invasive tests (NITs) for monitoring treatment response and disease progression in chronic liver disease. Liver stiffness (LS) evaluated by transient elastography (TE), shear wave elastography (SWE), and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and serum markers e.g. APRI and FIB-4 scores were assessed at baseline and the 1-year follow-up. In all, 89 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients with sustained virological response and 93 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients were included. There was a significantly strong correlation among imaging techniques. Using MRE as the reference standard, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves for TE, SWE, APRI, and FIB-4 in detecting stage1-4 fibrosis were 0.88-0.95, 0.87-0.96, 0.83-0.89, and 0.79-0.92, respectively. In chronic HCV patients, the values of TE, SWE, MRE, APRI and FIB-4 significantly decreased from baseline to the 1-year follow-up. Liver steatosis did not significantly change over time. In NAFLD, compared to obese patients, non-obese patients had less LS and steatosis at baseline, and these values did not show significant changes at the 1-year follow-up. Our study suggests that the current NITs have a good correlation and accuracy in monitoring the treatment outcomes in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Liver fibrosis quantification

Liver fibrosis (LF) is the wound healing response to chronic liver injury. LF is the endpoint of chronic liver disease (CLD) regardless of etiology and the single most important determinant of long-term liver-related clinical outcomes. Quantification of LF is important for staging, to evaluate response to treatment and to predict outcomes. LF is traditionally staged by liver biopsy. However, liver biopsy is invasive and suffers from sampling errors when biopsy size is inadequate; therefore, non-invasive tests (NITs) have found important roles in clinical care. NITs include simple laboratory-based serum tests, panels of serum tests, and imaging biomarkers. NITs are validated against the liver biopsy and will be used in the future for evaluation of nearly all CLDs with invasive liver biopsy reserved for some cases. Both serum tests and some imaging biomarkers such as elastography are currently used clinically as surrogate markers for LF. Several other imaging biomarkers are still considered research and awaiting clinical application in the future. As the evaluation of imaging biomarkers will likely become the norm in the future, understanding pathogenesis of LF is important. Knowledge of properties measured by imaging biomarkers and its correlation with LF is important to understand the application of NITs by abdominal radiologists. In this review, we present a brief overview of pathogenesis of LF, spatiotemporal evolution of LF in different CLD, and severity assessment with liver biopsy. This will be followed by a brief discussion on properties measured by imaging biomarkers and their relationship to the LF.

Current considerations for clinical management and care of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Insights from the 1st International Workshop of the Canadian NASH Network (CanNASH)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 8 million Canadians. NAFLD refers to a disease spectrum ranging from bland steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Nearly 25% of patients with NAFLD develop NASH, which can progress to liver cirrhosis and related end-stage complications. Type 2 diabetes and obesity represent the main risk factors for the disease. The Canadian NASH Network is a national collaborative organization of health care professionals and researchers with a primary interest in enhancing understanding, care, education, and research around NAFLD, with a vision of best practices for this disease state. At the 1st International Workshop of the CanNASH network in April 2021, a joint event with the single topic conference of the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL), clinicians, epidemiologists, basic scientists, and community members came together to share their work under the theme of NASH. This symposium also marked the initiation of collaborations between Canadian and other key opinion leaders in the field representative of international liver associations. The main objective is to develop a policy framework that outlines specific targets, suggested activities, and evidence-based best practices to guide provincial, territorial, and federal organizations in developing multidisciplinary models of care and strategies to address this epidemic.

Diagnostic challenges in patients with alcohol-related liver disease

Alcohol is globally the leading risk factor for cirrhosis and is subsumed under the term alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). However, only ca. 10% of people with harmful alcohol consumption (>40 gram alcohol per day) develop cirrhosis, while 15% have normal liver histology. Unfortunately, laboratory parameters and ultrasound hold little value to neither rule-in nor rule out alcohol related liver fibrosis. While several indices with combinations of liver associated markers such as FIB4 seem to be promising, non-invasive test strategies are urgently needed with cut-off's that can be applied to guide clinical decision making. The aims of this review article are to highlight novel developments for the diagnosis of ALD and to identify topics of controversy and potential future directions. In the last 15 years, elastography to measure liver stiffness (LS) has significantly improved our screening strategies for cirrhosis. LS values below 6 kPa are considered as normal and exclude ALD. LS of 8 and 12.5 kPa represent generally accepted cut-off values for F3 and F4 fibrosis. Especially, transient elastography (TE) has been assessed in numerous studies, but similar performance can be obtained with point shear wave elastography, 2 SD shear wave elastography or MR elastography. Important confounders of elevated LS such as inflammation should also be considered and alcohol withdrawal not only improves liver inflammation but also LS. Liver stiffness measurement has signficiantly improved early diagnosis and follow-up of fibrosis in patients with ALD and patients with diagnosed manifest but clinically compensated cirrhosis should undergo further clinical examinations to rule out complications of portal hypertension. In addition, surveillance for the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma is recommended in all cirrhotic patients.

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography for sparing endoscopy screening in patients with HBV-related compensated advanced chronic liver disease

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the diagnostic performance of liver stiffness (LS) measured by 2D-SWE for predicting esophageal varices (EV) and high-risk varices (HRV) in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD).

METHODS

In total, 268 patients with HBV-related cACLD who underwent 2D-SWE and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were retrospectively evaluated. The new criteria for ruling out HRV were tested in the training cohort with 175 patients and validated in the validation cohort with 93 patients.

RESULTS

The AUROCs of LS for predicting EV and HRV were 0.90(0.86-0.95) and 0.93(0.89-0.96) respectively. LS (OR, 1.64 (95% CI: 1.31-2.07); P < 0.0001), PLT (OR, 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.97); P < 0.0001) and albumin (OR, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.62-0.90); P = 0.02) were independent factors for the presence of HRV. The Baveno VI criteria of LS < 20 kPa and PLT > 150 × 10⁹ /L saved 15.1%-17.1% EGD screening with 0-4.3% HRV miss rate. LS < 16 kPa and PLT > 60 × 10⁹ /L spared 51.4%-52.7% EGD screening with 3.8%-4.3% HRV miss rate.

CONCLUSION

Baveno VI criteria is suitable for 2D-SWE to rule out HRV. LS < 16 kPa and PLT > 60 × 10⁹ /L could be a reliable model for ruling out HRV in patients with HBV-related cACLD.

Comparative diagnostic performance of ultrasound shear wave elastography and magnetic resonance elastography for classifying fibrosis stage in adults with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Objectives

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of US shear wave elastography (SWE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for classifying fibrosis stage in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

Patients from a prospective single-center cohort with clinical liver biopsy for known or suspected NAFLD underwent contemporaneous SWE and MRE. AUCs for classifying biopsy-determined liver fibrosis stages ≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and = 4, and their respective performance parameters at cutoffs providing ≥ 90% sensitivity or specificity were compared between SWE and MRE.

Results

In total, 100 patients (mean age, 51.8 ± 12.9 years; 46% males; mean BMI 31.6 ± 4.7 kg/m²) with fibrosis stage distribution (stage 0/1/2/3/4) of 43, 36, 5, 10, and 6%, respectively, were included. AUCs (and 95% CIs) for SWE and MRE were 0.65 (0.54–0.76) and 0.81 (0.72–0.89), 0.81 (0.71–0.91) and 0.94 (0.89–1.00), 0.85 (0.74–0.96) and 0.95 (0.89–1.00), and 0.91 (0.79–1.00) and 0.92 (0.83–1.00), for detecting fibrosis stage ≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and = 4, respectively. The differences were significant for detecting fibrosis stage ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 (p < 0.01) but not otherwise. At ≥ 90% sensitivity cutoff, MRE yielded higher specificity than SWE at diagnosing fibrosis stage ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3. At ≥ 90% specificity cutoff, MRE yielded higher sensitivity than SWE at diagnosing fibrosis stage ≥ 1 and ≥ 2.

Conclusions

In adults with NAFLD, MRE was more accurate than SWE in diagnosing stage ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 fibrosis, but not stage ≥ 3 or 4 fibrosis.

Key Points

• For detecting any fibrosis or mild fibrosis, MR elastography was significantly more accurate than shear wave elastography.

• For detecting advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, MRE and SWE did not differ significantly in accuracy.

• For excluding advanced fibrosis and potentially ruling out the need for biopsy, SWE and MRE did not differ significantly in negative predictive value.

• Neither SWE nor MRE had sufficiently high positive predictive value to rule in advanced fibrosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00330-021-08369-9.

Liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is widely prevalent worldwide and can be a consequence of different causes, such as obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, high alcohol consumption, hepatitis B or C infection, autoimmune diseases, cholestatic diseases, and iron or copper overload. Cirrhosis develops after a long period of inflammation that results in replacement of the healthy liver parenchyma with fibrotic tissue and regenerative nodules, leading to portal hypertension. The disease evolves from an asymptomatic phase (compensated cirrhosis) to a symptomatic phase (decompensated cirrhosis), the complications of which often result in hospitalisation, impaired quality of life, and high mortality. Progressive portal hypertension, systemic inflammation, and liver failure drive disease outcomes. The management of liver cirrhosis is centred on the treatment of the causes and complications, and liver transplantation can be required in some cases. In this Seminar, we discuss the disease burden, pathophysiology, and recommendations for the diagnosis and management of cirrhosis and its complications. Future challenges include better screening for early fibrosis or cirrhosis, early identification and reversal of causative factors, and prevention of complications.

Diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and transient elastography in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

INTRODUCTION

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) provide noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis. We compared performance of 2D-SWE and VCTE for fibrosis detection in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

We performed a prospective study of adults with NAFLD who underwent 2D-SWE, VCTE, and liver biopsy analysis (using Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network scoring system). The primary outcome was hepatic fibrosis (stage ⩾ 1); secondary outcomes included dichotomized fibrosis stages. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analyses were used to compare 2D-SWE and VCTE performance.

RESULTS

A total of 114 adults with a median BMI of 31.2 kg/m² were included. The VCTE was better than 2D-SWE for the detection of fibrosis (AUROC: 0.81 versus 0.72, p = 0.03). The VCTE detected fibrosis stage 2, 3, or 4 with AUROCs of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.93), 0.91 (95% CI, 0.82-0.99), and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.91-1.00). The 2D-SWE detected fibrosis stage 2, 3, or 4 with AUROCs of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.76-0.92), 0.88 (95% CI, 0.81-0.96), and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.86-0.99).

CONCLUSION

In a prospective study including more than 100 adults with NAFLD, we found VCTE to be more accurate than 2D-SWE in detecting fibrosis; these modalities, however, are comparable in assessing for higher stages of fibrosis.

The Need for Alternatives to Liver Biopsies: Non-Invasive Analytics and Diagnostics

Histology remains essential for the diagnosis and management of many disorders affecting the liver. However, the biopsy procedure itself is associated with a low risk of harm to the patient and cost to the health services; samples may not be adequate and are subject to sampling variation. Furthermore, interpretation often depends on the skill of the pathologist. Increasingly, new techniques are becoming available that are altering the indications for liver biopsy. Many diseases of the liver can be diagnosed and managed using serological and radiological techniques; the degree of fibrosis and fat can often be assessed by serological or imaging techniques and the nature of space occupying lesions defined by serology, imaging and use of liquid biopsy. However, these techniques, too, are subject to limitations: sensitivity and specificity is not always adequate for diagnosis or management; some techniques are expensive and often also require expert interpretation. Although there may be less need for liver biopsy today, histology remains the gold standard as well as an essential tool for the diagnosis and management of many conditions, especially where there are multiple pathologies, or where a diagnosis cannot or has not been made by alternative approaches. Until less invasive techniques become more reliable and accessible, liver histology will remain a key investigation.