The association of triglyceride-glucose-waist circumference with metabolic associated fatty liver disease and the severity of liver steatosis and fibrosis in American adults: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

The global obesity pandemic has led to an alarming rise in the prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), making it a substantial clinical and economic burden on society. Early detection and effective treatment of MAFLD are imperative to mitigate its impact.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4634 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2017-2018 cycle. Transient elastography (TE) was used to diagnose MAFLD and assess the extent of liver steatosis and fibrosis. Multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to examine the association between the triglyceride and glucose index-waist circumference (TyG-WC) and the risk of MAFLD, liver fibrosis, and steatosis.

RESULTS

A positive association between TyG-WC and MAFLD persisted across all three models: model1: OR = 8.44, 95% CI: 6.85-10.38 (unadjusted), model2: OR = 8.28, 95% CI: 6.53-10.50 (partially adjusted), and model3: OR = 7.98, 95% CI: 4.11-15.46 (fully adjusted). Further investigation through interaction and stratified analysis revealed that this association was more pronounced in the non-obese and Non-Hispanic White persons groups. Moreover, a non-linear relationship analysis unveiled threshold and saturation effects between TyG-WC and MAFLD. Specifically, a TyG-WC value of approximately 600 may represent the threshold effect for MAFLD risk, while 1200 may signify the saturation effect of MAFLD risk. Finally, a robust correlation between TyG-WC and the severity of liver steatosis and fibrosis was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the TyG-WC index exhibits excellent predictive value for MAFLD in the general American population.

CTLA-4 haplotype predicts HBsAg and HBcrAg levels and HBeAg seroconversion age in children with chronic HBV infection

Background & Aim

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) attenuates cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activation. This study was performed to examine the relationships between CTLA-4 genotypes/haplotypes, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels, and their potential impact on the clinical course of chronic HBV infection.

Methods

We recruited 145 treatment-naïve patients with genotype B or C chronic HBV infection who were initially hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive and had been followed from a mean age of 7.08 years for a total of 4,787 person-years in the study cohort. We also recruited another 69 treatment-naïve adults with genotype B or C chronic HBV infection as a validation cohort. We assessed the CTLA-4 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms rs4553808 (-A1661G)/rs5742909 (-C318T) in both cohorts, and the serum HBsAg and HBcrAg levels in the study cohort.

Results

CTLA-4 promoter haplotypes were associated with HBsAg and HBcrAg levels at 10 and 15 years of age in the study cohort. Patients with the CTLA-4 AA/CC haplotype showed earlier spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion (hazard ratio = 1.58; p = 0.02), and a more rapid annual decline in the serum HBsAg level than other patients (0.09 vs. 0.03 log10 IU/ml/year, p = 0.02). The CTLA-4 AA/CC haplotype was also predictive of HBeAg seroconversion in the validation cohort (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Chronic HBV-infected patients with a CTLA-4 AA/CC haplotype had lower serum HBsAg and HBcrAg levels in childhood and earlier spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion.

Impact and implications

The role of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) in chronic HBV-infected children has not been studied previously. In a very long-term cohort followed from childhood to adulthood, we showed that CTLA-4 haplotypes are associated with HBV biomarker levels in childhood and are correlated with the clinical course of chronic HBV infection. CTLA-4 pathway may serve as a future target for the development of therapeutic agents against HBV infection.

The evaluation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children with obesity with vibration-controlled transient elastography

INTRODUCTION

Parallel to the worldwide increase in obesity, the epidemic of chronic liver disease is increasing also in pediatric population. Our aim is to provide a different outlook on the current screening confusion in pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with the non-invasive vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-center, cross-sectional, comparative study was performed at the tertiary center, included 95 patients with obesity and 116 controls, both groups were 9-18 years of ages. VCTE examinations performed in all patients. The cut-off values for controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were established by comparing the study and control groups.

RESULTS

The cut-off for CAP was determined as >236 dB/m when comparing the two groups. The AUC was 0.900 (95% CI, 0.851-0.937) and the diagnostic accuracy was 77.9% and 91.4% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The cut-off value for LSM >5 kPa was determined by comparison of the two groups. The AUC was 0.794 (95% CI, 0.733-0.846) and the diagnostic accuracies were 50.5% and 90.5% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no benchmark method for screening pediatric NAFLD. However, VCTE is a promising method for screening pediatric NAFLD. It is accessible, repeatable and practical.

Predictors of controlled attenuation parameter in metabolic dysfunction

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatic fat content can be non-invasively estimated by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) during transient elastography. The aim of this study was to examine the determinants and predictors of CAP values in individuals with metabolic dysfunction.

METHODS

We enrolled 1230 consecutive apparently healthy individuals (Liver-Bible-2022 cohort) with ≥3 metabolic dysfunction features. CAP was measured by Fibroscan. CAP determinants and predictors were identified using backward stepwise analysis and introduced in generalized linear models.

RESULTS

Participants were predominantly males (82.9%), mean age was 53.8 ± 6.4 years, 600 (48.8%) had steatosis (CAP ≥ 275 dB/m), and 27 had liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥ 8 kPa. CAP values correlated with LSM (p < 10-22). In multivariable analysis, fasting insulin and abdominal circumference (AC) were the main determinants of CAP (p < 10-6), together with body mass index (BMI; p < 10-4), age, diabetes, triglycerides, ferritin, and lower HDL and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH; p < 0.05 for all). In a subset of 592 participants with thyroid hormone measurement, we found an association between higher free triiodothyronine levels, correlating with lower TSH, and CAP values, independent of TSH and of levothyroxine treatment (p = 0.0025). A clinical CAP score based on age, BMI, AC, HbA1c, ALT, and HDL predicted CAP ≥ 275 dB/m with moderate accuracy (AUROC = 0.73), which was better than that of the Fatty Liver Index and of ALT (AUROC = 0.70/0.61, respectively) and validated it in multiple cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance severity were the main determinants of CAP in individuals with metabolic dysfunction and may improve steatotic liver disease risk stratification. CAP values were modulated by the hypophysis-thyroid axis.

Optimizing surveillance of low-risk metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease using transient elastography

BACKGROUND

Most people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) lack significant fibrosis and are considered low-risk. Surveillance strategy for low-risk MASLD remains uncertain.

AIM

Identify which low-risk subjects can avoid follow-up vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) within 1 year.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of two independent low-risk MASLD cohorts (baseline liver stiffness [LS] < 8kPa) with routine 6-12 months follow-up VCTE. The primary outcome was LS ≥ 8kPa on follow-up, requiring referral and further work-up according to current guidance. Predictors of the primary outcome on univariate and multivariate logistic regression were incorporated into a decision algorithm, and validated in an independent cohort.

RESULTS

Of 206 subjects in the derivation cohort, 96 were low-risk. After a median of 10 months, 24 (25%) low-risk subjects had LS ≥ 8kPa. Baseline LS ( P  < 0.01) and ALT change from baseline ( P  = 0.02) (multivariate AUROC = 0.84 [0.74-0.94]) predicted the primary outcome, and were incorporated to a two-step decision algorithm. Low-risk subjects with baseline LS < 5.5 kPa can avoid repeating VCTE in a year, while those with LS > 6.8 kPa require one. For intermediate baseline LS (5.5-6.8kPa), repeat VCTE is only indicated when ALT increase > 6 U/L. The algorithm had 92% negative predictive value, 78% specificity, and 78% accuracy in the derivation cohort. In the validation cohort (n = 64), it had 91% NPV, 72% specificity, and 71% accuracy.

CONCLUSION

In low-risk MASLD, a simple algorithm combining baseline LS and ALT change can be used to safely avoid a repeat VCTE in a year.

Improved Applicability and Diagnostic Accuracy of the Novel Spleen-Dedicated Transient Elastography Device for High-Risk Esophageal Varices

Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) by transient elastography (TE) has been repeatedly demonstrated as the reliable way to rule out the presence of high-risk esophageal varices (HRV). We aimed to evaluate and compare novel vs. standard TE-SSM module performance in diagnosing HRV in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). This retrospective study included patients with cACLD; blood data, upper digestive endoscopy performed within 3 months of TE, SSM@50Hz and SSM@100Hz were collected. Overall, 112 patients with cACLD were analyzed (75.9% males, average age of 66, 43.7% alcohol-related chronic liver disease, 22.3% metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, 6.2% viral hepatitis). Reliable SSM was possible in 80.3% and 93.8% of patients by using SSM@50Hz and SSM@100Hz probe, respectively. At the cut-off 41.8 kPa and 40.9 kPa (Youden), SSM@50Hz and SSM@100Hz had AUROCs of 0.746 and 0.752, respectively, for diagnosing HRV (p = 0.71). At the respective cut-offs, sensitivities for HRV were 92.9% and 100%, resulting in misclassification rates of 7.1% and 0% by using SSM@50Hz and SSM@100Hz. SSM reliably excludes HRV in cACLD patients, with measurements below 41 kPa potentially avoiding EGD in around 50% of cases, with minimal risk of HRV omission. SSM@100Hz demonstrated less measurement failures and no HRV misclassification.

Air pollution associate with advanced hepatic fibrosis among patients with chronic liver disease

We aimed to investigate the association between air pollution and advanced fibrosis among patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. A total of 1376 participants who were seropositive for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) or antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) or had abnormal liver function in a community screening program from 2019 to 2021 were enrolled for the assessment of liver fibrosis using transient elastography. Daily estimates of air pollutants (particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5 ], nitrogen dioxide [NO2 ], ozone [O3 ] and benzene) were aggregated into mean estimates for the previous year based on the date of enrolment. Of the 1376 participants, 767 (52.8%) and 187 (13.6) had MAFLD and advanced fibrosis, respectively. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with advanced liver fibrosis were HCV viremia (odds ratio [OR], 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05-4.77; p < 0.001), smoking (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.16-2.74; p = 0.01), age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05; p < 0.001) and PM2.5 (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.16; p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that LSM was independently correlated with PM2.5 (β: 0.134; 95% CI: 0.025, 0.243; p = 0.02). There was a dose-dependent relationship between different fibrotic stages and the PM2.5 level (the PM2.5 level in patients with fibrotic stages 0, 1-2 and 3-4: 27.9, 28.4, and 29.3 μg/m3 , respectively; trend p < 0.001). Exposure to PM2.5 , as well as HBV and HCV infections, is associated with advanced liver fibrosis in patients with MAFLD. There was a dose-dependent correlation between PM2.5 levels and the severity of hepatic fibrosis.

A Case of Idiopathic Portal Hypertension Diagnosed by Noninvasive Fibrosis Evaluation Using Elastography

Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is often misdiagnosed as liver cirrhosis. Because it is difficult to distinguish between the two using diagnostic imaging, invasive tests, such as pathology and hepatic vein pressure gradient measurement, are necessary to make a diagnosis. Several studies have shown that the measurement of liver and spleen stiffnesses using elastography is useful in the diagnosis of IPH; however, there are few concrete reports on this subject. Herein, we report the case of a 58-year-old woman with IPH in which elastography was helpful for the diagnosis.

Using liver stiffness to predict and monitor the risk of decompensation and mortality in patients with alcohol-related liver disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is recommended for disease prognostication and monitoring. We evaluated if LSM, using transient elastography, and LSM changes predict decompensation and mortality in patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD).

METHODS

We performed an observational cohort study of compensated patients at risk of ALD from Denmark and Austria. We evaluated the risk of decompensation and all-cause mortality, stratified for compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD: baseline LSM ≥10 kPa) and LSM changes after a median of 2 years. In patients with cACLD, we defined LSM changes as (A) LSM increase ≥20% ("cACLD increasers") and (B) follow-up LSM <10 kPa or <20 kPa with LSM decrease ≥20% ("cACLD decreasers"). In patients without cACLD, we defined follow-up LSM ≥10 kPa as an LSM increase ("No cACLD increasers"). The remaining patients were considered LSM stable.

RESULTS

We followed 536 patients for 3,008 patient-years, median age 57 years (IQR 49-63), baseline LSM 8.1 kPa (IQR 4.9-21.7). 371 patients (69%) had follow-up LSM after a median of 25 months (IQR 17-38), 41 subsequently decompensated and 55 died. Of 125 with cACLD at baseline, 14% were "cACLD increasers" and 43% "cACLD decreasers", while 13% of patients without cACLD were "No cACLD increasers" (n = 33/246). Baseline LSM, follow-up LSM and LSM changes accurately predicted decompensation (C-index: baseline LSM 0.85; follow-up LSM 0.89; LSM changes 0.85) and mortality (C-index: baseline LSM 0.74; follow-up LSM 0.74; LSM changes 0.70). When compared to "cACLD decreasers", "cACLD increasers" had significantly lower decompensation-free survival and higher risks of decompensation (subdistribution hazard ratio 4.39, p = 0.004) and mortality (hazard ratio 3.22, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

LSM by transient elastography predicts decompensation and all-cause mortality in patients with compensated ALD both at diagnosis and when used for monitoring.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

Patients at risk of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) are at significant risk of progressive disease and adverse outcomes. Monitoring is essential for optimal disease surveillance and patient guidance, but non-invasive monitoring tools are lacking. In this study we demonstrate that liver stiffness measurement (LSM), using transient elastography, and LSM changes after a median of 2 years, can predict decompensation and all-cause mortality in patients at risk of ALD with and without compensated advanced chronic liver disease. These findings are in line with results from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis C and primary sclerosing cholangitis, and support the clinical utility of LSM, using transient elastography, for disease prognostication and monitoring in chronic liver diseases including ALD, as recommended by the Baveno VII.

Development of Cost-Effective Fatty Liver Disease Prediction Models in a Chinese Population: Statistical and Machine Learning Approaches

BACKGROUND

The increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in China presents a significant public health concern. Traditional ultrasound, commonly used for fatty liver screening, often lacks the ability to accurately quantify steatosis, leading to insufficient follow-up for patients with moderate-to-severe steatosis. Transient elastography (TE) provides a more quantitative diagnosis of steatosis and fibrosis, closely aligning with biopsy results. Moreover, machine learning (ML) technology holds promise for developing more precise diagnostic models for NAFLD using a variety of laboratory indicators.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to develop a novel ML-based diagnostic model leveraging TE results for staging hepatic steatosis. The objective was to streamline the model's input features, creating a cost-effective and user-friendly tool to distinguish patients with NAFLD requiring follow-up. This innovative approach merges TE and ML to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in NAFLD assessment.

METHODS

The study involved a comprehensive analysis of health examination records from Suzhou Municipal Hospital, spanning from March to May 2023. Patient data and questionnaire responses were meticulously inputted into Microsoft Excel 2019, followed by thorough data cleaning and model development using Python 3.7, with libraries scikit-learn and numpy to ensure data accuracy. A cohort comprising 978 residents with complete medical records and TE results was included for analysis. Various classification models, including logistic regression (LR), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), were constructed and evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

RESULTS

Among the 916 patients included in the study, 273 were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe NAFLD. The concordance rate between traditional ultrasound and TE for detecting moderate-to-severe NAFLD was 84.6% (231/273). The AUROC values for the RF, LightGBM, XGBoost, SVM, KNN, and LR models were 0.91, 0.86, 0.83, 0.88, 0.77, and 0.81, respectively. These models achieved accuracy rates of 84%, 81%, 78%, 81%, 76%, and 77%, respectively. Notably, the RF model exhibited the best performance. A simplified RF model was developed with an AUROC of 0.88, featuring 62% sensitivity and 90% specificity. This simplified model used 6 key features: waist circumference, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, uric acid, total bilirubin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. This approach offers a cost-effective and user-friendly tool while streamlining feature acquisition for training purposes.

CONCLUSIONS

The study introduces a groundbreaking, cost-effective ML algorithm that leverages health examination data for identifying moderate-to-severe NAFLD. This model has the potential to significantly impact public health by enabling targeted investigations and interventions for NAFLD. By integrating TE and ML technologies, the study showcases innovative approaches to advancing NAFLD diagnostics.

Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Budd-Chiari Syndrome and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS): A Long-Term Study Using Transient Elastography

Hepatic vein outflow obstruction causes congestion of the liver, leading to necrosis, fibrosis, and portal hypertension (PH). A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) reduces congestion and PH by providing artificial outflow. The aim of the study was to investigate fibrosis progression in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and TIPS using transient elastography (TE). From 2010 to 2022, 25 patients received 80 TEs using FibroScan®, Echosens, Paris, France (3.2 ± 2.1 per patient). TIPS function was assessed via Doppler ultrasound or radiological intervention. At the time of TE examination, 21 patients had patent shunts. Four patients had occluded shunts but normal pressure gradients during the intervention. The first TE measurement performed 9.8 ± 6.8 years after the BCS diagnosis showed stiffness values of 24.6 ± 11.5 kPa. A second or last measurement performed 7.0 ± 2.9 years after the first measurement showed similar stiffness values of 24.1 ± 15.7 kPa (p = 0.943). Except for three patients, the liver stiffness was always >12 kPa, indicating advanced fibrosis. Stiffness values obtained <5 years (n = 8, 23.8 ± 9.2 kPa) or >5 years after the BCS diagnosis (24.9 ± 12.7 kPa) did not differ (p = 0.907). In addition, stiffness was not related to the interval between BCS and TIPS implantation (p = 0.999). One patient received liver transplantation, and two patients died from non-hepatic causes. Most patients developed mild to moderate cirrhosis, possibly during the early phase of the disease. Timing of TIPS did not influence fibrosis progression. This and the release of portal hypertension may argue in favor of a generous TIPS implantation practice in patients with BCS.

Suboptimal reliability of FIB-4 and NAFLD-fibrosis scores for staging of liver fibrosis in general population

Background and Aim

The burden and incidence of liver cirrhosis are increasing worldwide. Early detection of liver fibrosis would help in early interventions and preventing the progression of fibrosis and cirrhosis. The accepted noninvasive markers for liver fibrosis staging, namely fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), have shown inconsistent performance for detecting the fibrosis stage. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of FIB-4 score and NFS for the detection of liver fibrosis in the general population.

Methods

From a general population referred from a single, community-based family-physician clinic, we included study participants between the ages of 45 and 65 years, with no knowledge of liver disease and no record of alcohol consumption. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by the FIB-4 score and NFS using shear wave elastography (SWE) or transient elastography (TE) measurements as a reference.

Results

A total of 76 participants (aged 61.5 ± 0.37 years, 33% females) were included in the study cohort. We observed a nonsignificant correlation between liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and FIB-4 and NFS (r = 0.1, P = 0.37; r = 0.16, P = 0.15, respectively). Our results showed that only 5.2% with FIB-4 >3.25 and 9.7% with NFS >0.675 had LSM >12 kPa. The compatibility of fibrosis staging was 55% between FIB-4 score and LSM and only 18% between NFS and LSM.

Conclusion

We found that FIB-4 and NFS are unreliable tools for liver fibrosis estimation in the general population. There is a need for more reliable noninvasive methods for the early detection of liver fibrosis.

Focused Shear Wave Beam Propagation in Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms

OBJECTIVE

Ultrasound transient elastography (TE) technologies for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) utilize vibration of small, flat pistons, which generate shear waves that lack directivity. The most common cause for LSM failure in practice is insufficient shear wave signal at the needed depths. We propose to increase shear wave amplitude by focusing the waves into a directional beam. Here, we demonstrate the generation and propagation of focused shear wave beams (fSWBs) in gelatin.

METHODS

Directional fSWBs are generated by vibration at 200-400 Hz of a concave piston embedded near the surface of gelatin phantoms and measured with high-frame-rate ultrasound imaging. Five phantoms with a range of stiffnesses are employed. Shear wave speeds assessed by fSWBs are compared with those by radiation-force-based methods (2D SWE). fSWB amplitudes are compared to predictions using an analytical model.

RESULTS

fSWB-derived shear wave speeds are in good agreement with 2D SWE. The amplitudes of fSWBs are localized to the LSM region and are significantly greater than unfocused shear waves. Overall agreement with theory is observed, with some discrepancies in the theoretical source condition.

CONCLUSION

Focusing shear waves can increase the signal in the LSM region for TE. Challenges for translation include coupling piston vibration with the patient skin and increased attenuation in vivo compared to the phantoms employed here.

SIGNIFICANCE

Fibrosis is the most predictive measure of patient outcome in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Increased shear wave amplitude in the LSM region can reduce fibrosis assessment failure rates by TE, thus reducing the need for invasive methods like biopsy.

Transient Elastography Is the Best-Performing Non-Invasive Test of Liver Fibrosis in Obese Asian Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Pilot, Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is increasing, and up to 64% of Asian patients with NAFLD are obese. Non-invasive tests (NITs) for the assessment of liver fibrosis are increasingly being used, but data on their performance in obese Asian patients are lacking. In this pilot cross-sectional study, we aim to compare the distribution of serum and radiological markers of fibrosis between obese Asian biopsy-proven NAFLD patients with and without fibrosis and estimate the diagnostic accuracies of these indices. Materials and Methods: Obese Asian patients with NAFLD and who had undergone a liver biopsy showing histological evidence of NAFLD were invited to participate. Liver fibrosis was assessed using laboratory (APRI, AAR, BARD, FIB4, NFS, and Asia-Pacific NAFLD advanced fibrosis score) and imaging modalities (TE: transient elastography, MRE: magnetic resonance elastography, and SWU: shear wave ultrasonography). Results: A total of 16 patients were included in the final analysis. On liver biopsy, nine patients (56.3%) had significant fibrosis (F2 or higher), and six of these patients had advanced fibrosis (F3 or higher). F4 fibrosis was present in one patient (6.3%). For the laboratory markers, we found that the BARD score correctly identified five out of six patients with advanced fibrosis (83.4%, p value 0.045). Among all the NITs studied, liver stiffness measured by TE had the highest accuracy of 87.5% in its established threshold of 8.5 kPa for the detection of advanced fibrosis. MRE also performed well (81.2% in 3.64 kPa). Conclusions: In conclusion, TE has performed well in the detection of advanced fibrosis in obese Asian patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD in our pilot study. Further large-scale definitive studies are needed to validate the results of our findings.

Prevalence of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in apparently healthy airline pilots: A transient elastography study

Background and Aim

Airline pilots (APs) are often characterized by a sedentary lifestyle, predisposing them to adverse cardiometabolic consequences. In this cross-sectional study, we used transient elastography (TE) to investigate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis among apparently healthy APs.

Materials and Methods

The study cohort consisted of 137 male APs of Caucasian descent who voluntarily underwent TE. To evaluate the extent and severity of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, we employed established cutoff values for the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM).

Results

Of the APs, 34 (24.8%) were diagnosed with TE-defined steatosis. Specifically, 25 APs (18.2%) exhibited mild steatosis, 6 (4.4%) moderate steatosis, and 3 (2.2%) severe steatosis. The majority of participants (80 APs or 58.4%) showed no signs of liver fibrosis based on LSM values. However, 49 APs (35.8%) were diagnosed with mild fibrosis (F1), 7 (5.1%) with significant fibrosis (F2), and one (0.7%) with advanced fibrosis (F3). None of the pilots had F4 (cirrhosis). In multivariable linear regression analysis, BMI was the sole independent predictor of both CAP (β=0.34, p<0.001) and LSM (β=0.41, p<0.001) values in our sample of male APs.

Conclusion

TE is a straightforward and convenient non-invasive method for detecting hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in high-risk occupational groups such as APs.

Vibration-controlled transient elastography for non-invasive screening of liver fibrosis and steatosis in Turkish patients with psoriasis: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aim

The prevalence of fibrosis and steatosis in patients with psoriasis, as determined by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), has not been evaluated in Turkiye to date. The present cross-sectional study aims to present the first systematic screening results, focusing on two primary objectives: 1) establishing the prevalence of fibrosis and steatosis, and 2) identifying independent predictors for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values in this patient population.

Materials and Methods

Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had a confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis by a qualified dermatologist based on characteristic signs and symptoms and histopathological examination, and had undergone VCTE for LSM and CAP measurements.

Results

The diagnosis of severe fibrosis and cirrhosis - identified by LSM values of 10.0-13.9 and ≥14.0 kPa, respectively - was significantly prevalent (7.0% and 10.1%, respectively) among a sizeable cohort of relatively young Turkish patients with psoriasis (n=328; mean age: 49.5±12.7 years). Additionally, severe steatosis, as diagnosed by VCTE and characterized by a CAP value exceeding 290 dB/m, was identified in up to 43.3% of patients. Although body mass index (BMI) was the only variable found to be an independently associated with LSM, multivariable linear regression analysis failed to identify any statistically independent predictor of CAP values.

Conclusion

The prevalence of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in Turkish patients with psoriasis is far from negligible, with BMI identified as an independent risk factor for 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.

Fibrotic Burden in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus-Related Cirrhosis Is Independently Associated With Poorer Kidney Outcomes

BACKGROUND

We investigated whether higher fibrotic burden was independently associated with poorer kidney outcomes in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis.

METHODS

A total of 1691 patients with radiologically diagnosed HBV-related cirrhosis but without baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) who underwent transient elastography (TE) between March 2012 and August 2018 were selected. The study outcome was the composite of development of incident CKD, defined as the occurrence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/minute/1.73 m2 or proteinuria (≥1+ on dipstick test) on 2 consecutive measurements during follow-up, 50% decline in eGFR or onset of end-stage kidney disease (initiation of chronic dialysis), or all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

The mean age was 53.4 years and 1030 (60.9%) patients were male. During 8379 person-years of follow-up (median 5.2 years), 60 (3.5%) patients experienced study outcomes. When stratified according to TE-defined fibrotic burden, multivariable Cox models revealed that risk of poorer kidney outcomes was 2.77-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.16-6.63; P < .001) higher in patients with liver stiffness range indicating cirrhosis (≥11.7 kPa), compared to those without significant liver fibrosis (<7.9 kPa). These associations remained significant even after adjusting for vigorous confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher fibrotic burden assessed using TE was independently associated with poorer kidney outcomes in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis.

Assessment of transient elastography in diagnosing MAFLD and the early effects of sleeve gastrectomy on MAFLD among the chinese population

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become a prevalent chronic liver disease among patients with obesity. Bariatric surgery (BS), such as sleeve gastrectomy (SG), shows promise in improving the unfavorable condition of MAFLD. Transient elastography (TE) can be utilized to assess the extent of steatosis and liver fibrosis, providing a non-invasive method for preoperative prediction and postoperative evaluation of MAFLD. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of TE in diagnosing MAFLD by evaluating liver steatosis and tissue stiffness, as well as assessing the early impact of SG in the treatment of obesity-associated MAFLD.

METHODS

In this study, we collected preoperative and 6-month postoperative data from patients with obesity who were diagnosed with MAFLD by intraoperative liver biopsy. The patients underwent SG at our hospital between August 2021 and April 2023. We estimated the diagnostic accuracy for the steatosis and fibrosis categories using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). We also evaluated the influence of disease prevalence on the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). MAFLD diagnosis was based on the liver steatosis activity and fibrosis (SAF) scoring system. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify factors contributing to severe MAFLD. To visualize the results, we created a nomogram and enhanced it with bootstrap resampling for internal validation. Additionally, we plotted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves. We compared pre- and postoperative data, including general information, laboratory tests, and TE results, to assess the early impact of SG in the treatment of obesity-associated MAFLD.

RESULTS

Based on the results of liver biopsy, the AUROC for controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in identifying steatosis was found to be 0.843 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.729-0.957) for S≥S1, 0.863 (95% CI 0.786-0.940) for S≥S2, and 0.872 (95% CI 0.810-0.934) for S=S3. The Youden limits for S≥S1, S≥S2, and S≥S3 were determined to be 271 dB/m, 292 dB/m, and 301 dB/m, respectively. Similarly, the AUROC for liver stiffness measurement (LSM)/E in detecting liver fibrosis was 0.927 (95% CI 0.869-0.984) for F≥F2, 0.919 (95% CI 0.824-0.979) for F≥F3, and 0.949 (95% CI 0.861-0.982) for F=F4, with Youden cut-off values of 7.5 kPa, 8.3 kPa, and 10.4 kPa, respectively. Patients with A≥3 and/or F≥3 were classified as having severe MAFLD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified CAP, E, LDL, and AST as the best diagnostic factors for severe MAFLD, and a nomogram was constructed based on these factors. The AUROC of the nomogram for the assessment of severe MAFLD was 0.824 (95% CI 0.761-0.887), which was further validated by 1000 bootstrap resamplings with a bootstrap model area under curve (AUC) of 0.823. Finally, after a 6-month follow-up period, the steatosis grade and fibrosis stage of the patients were graded based on the optimal cut-off values for CAP and LSM. Significant reductions in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, HbA1c, fasting glycaemia, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), CAP, LSM, steatosis grade, and fibrosis stage were observed compared to the preoperative values.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective study, we investigated the use of CAP and LSM as alternatives to liver biopsy for evaluating hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with obesity combined with MAFLD. Furthermore, we examined the impact of SG on metabolic indicators and the progression of fatty liver disease during the early postoperative period, and observed significant improvements in both aspects.

Real-Time Shear Wave Elastography for Determining the Ideal Site of Liver Biopsy in Diffuse Liver Disease

Objectives  The objective of the study was to identify accurate site of liver biopsy under ultrasound and elastography guidance and compare the shear wave elastography (SWE) and transient elastography (TE) diagnostic accuracy with histopathological correlation. Methods  This was a prospective single-center study where patients scheduled for nonfocal liver biopsy were divided into two groups (group U: ultrasound; group E elastography) by sequential nonrandom selection of patients. Elastography was performed before the biopsy and biopsies from the maximum stiffness segment were taken. Results  There was no significant difference of intersegmental liver stiffness with mean velocity; however, biopsy segment velocities show significant difference with mean liver stiffness suggestive of heterogenous distribution of fibrosis. The rho ( r ; Spearman's correlation) value between biopsy segments and mean velocities shows excellent correlation. The diagnostic performance of TE was good for fibrosis stages F2, F3, and F4, while SWE was fair for the diagnosis of fibrosis stages F1 and F2 and fairly equal for the diagnosis stages F2 and F3. Area under the curve (AUC) values in differentiating mild (F1) or no fibrosis from significant fibrosis (≥F2) were 95.5 with cutoff value of at least 1.94 m/s. Conclusions  The diagnostic performance of SWE is comparable with TE in liver fibrosis staging and monitoring. Fibrosis is heterogeneously distributed in different segments of the right lobe liver. Therefore, elastography at the time of biopsy may help in defining the accurate site for biopsy and improve histopathological yield in detecting liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Advances in Knowledge  Elastography-guided biopsy is helpful to determine the ideal site of biopsy.

Switch to a raltegravir-based antiretroviral regimen in people with HIV and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART), particularly integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people with HIV remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of switching non-INSTI backbone antiretroviral medications to raltegravir on NAFLD and metabolic parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a single-centre, phase IV, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial. People living with HIV with NAFLD and undetectable viral load while receiving a non-INSTI were randomized 1:1 to the switch arm (raltegravir 400 mg twice daily) or the control arm (continuing ART regimens not containing INSTI). NAFLD was defined as hepatic steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter ≥238 dB/m in the absence of significant alcohol use and viral hepatitis co-infections. Cytokeratin 18 was used as a biomarker of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Changes over time in outcomes were quantified as standardized mean differences (SMDs), and a generalized linear mixed model was used to compare outcomes between study arms.

RESULTS

A total of 31 people with HIV (mean age 54 years, 74% male) were randomized and followed for 24 months. Hepatic steatosis improved between baseline and end of follow-up in both the switch (SMD -43.4 dB/m) and the control arm (-26.6 dB/m); the difference between arms was not significant. At the end of follow-up, aspartate aminotransferase significantly decreased in the switch arm compared with the control arm (SMD -9.4 vs. 5.5 IU/L). No changes in cytokeratin 18, body mass index, or lipids were observed between study arms.

DISCUSSION

Switching to a raltegravir-based regimen improved aspartate aminotransferase but seemed to have no effect on NAFLD, body weight, and lipids compared with remaining on any other ART.

Clinical Predictive Score for Identifying Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Individuals with Prediabetes Using Transient Elastography

Scoring systems for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in individuals with prediabetes have not been extensively explored. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MASLD and to develop predictive tools for its detection in high cardiometabolic people with prediabetes. A cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline data from the prediabetes cohort. All participants underwent transient elastography to assess liver stiffness. MASLD was defined using a controlled attenuation parameter value > 275 dB/m and/or a liver stiffness measurement ≥ 7.0 kPa. Cases with secondary causes of hepatic steatosis were excluded. Out of 400 participants, 375 were included. The observed prevalence of MASLD in individuals with prediabetes was 35.7%. The most effective predictive model included FPG ≥ 110 mg/dL; HbA1c ≥ 6.0%; sex-specific cutoffs for HDL; ALT ≥ 30 IU/L; and BMI levels. This model demonstrated good predictive performance with an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI 0.73-0.86). At a cutoff value of 4.5, the sensitivity was 70.7%, the specificity was 72.3%, the PPV was 58.8%, and the NPV was 81.5%. Our predictive model is practical, easy to use, and relies on common parameters. The scoring system should aid clinicians in determining when further investigations of MASLD are warranted among individuals with prediabetes, especially in settings with limited resources.

Geographical disparities in gastroenterologists and transient elastography across Canada

Background

In the next decade, the incidence and prevalence of advanced liver disease are expected to increase across Canada. However, little is known about the country's resources for monitoring patients requiring specialized care. A resource assessment was conducted to evaluate regional disparities of specialists and transient elastography machines across Canada.

Methods

Demographic data on licenced gastroenterologists were obtained from Scott's Medical Directory as of October 2022. The primary location of each specialist was linked to 2016 Statistics Canada to obtain the population size and density of provinces/territories and census division (CD). Results were summarized per 100,000 persons. CDs were classified as resource scare or approaching resource scarcity. A list of transient elastography (TE) was provided by KNS Canada Inc. and summarized per 1,000,000 persons by province.

Results

Eight hundred fifty-three specialists were identified. Rates of gastroenterologists per 100,000 people ranged from 0 in the territories to 2.9 in Quebec. Half the provinces had fewer than 2.0 gastroenterologists per 100,000 persons. Gastroenterologists were concentrated in 24% (71/293) of the CDs across Canada. We identified resource-scarce CDs as areas with no gastroenterologists and in the highest tercile of population density, which accounted for 33% (1 of 3) in Prince Edward Island, 32% in Quebec, 25% in Ontario, 7% in British Columbia, and 4% in Manitoba. Only 94 TEs were identified nationwide.

Conclusion

We found significant variation in liver-specific resources across Canada. Given the increasing number of people living with liver disease, policies must be implemented to address access to specialized care.

No evidence of association between inherited thrombophilia and increased risk of liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Preliminary evidence suggests that inherited hypercoagulable disorders can lead to an increased risk of significant liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of significant fibrosis in patients with inherited thrombophilia, assessed by using liver stiffness (LS), and to compare this prevalence to that found in a large population-based cohort from the same region.

METHODS

This was a single-center, cross-sectional study. A complete laboratory analysis for liver disease, LS by transient elastography and an abdominal ultrasound were performed in patients with inherited thrombophilia diagnosed between May 2013-February 2017. These patients were propensity score matched (ratio 1:4) with a population-based cohort from the same region (PREVHEP-ETHON study; NCT02749864; N = 5988).

RESULTS

Of 241 patients with inherited thrombophilia, eight patients (3.3%) had significant fibrosis (LS ≥8 kPa). All of them had risk factors for liver disease and met diagnostic criteria for different liver diseases. After matching 221 patients with thrombophilia with 884 patients of the PREVHEP-ETHON cohort, the prevalence of significant fibrosis was similar between both cohorts (1.8% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.488). Multivariate analysis showed that age and liver disease risk factors, but not belonging to the thrombophilia cohort, were associated with the presence of significant fibrosis. The magnitude of the increased risk of significant fibrosis in patients with risk factors for liver disease was also similar in both cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings do not provide evidence supporting an association between inherited thrombophilia and an increased risk of significant liver fibrosis, independent of the presence of liver-related causes of fibrosis.

Diagnostic performance of transient elastography in differentiation between porto-sinusoidal vascular liver disease and compensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The efficacy of transient elastography (TE) in the differential diagnosis between porto-sinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD) and compensated cirrhosis has not been sufficiently studied. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of TE and identify histological lesions associated with liver stiffness.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients with PSVD and cirrhosis (Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A) and healthy subjects. Both the PSVD and cirrhotic patients had at least one sign of PH. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used for differentiation.

RESULTS

Ninety-two patients with PSVD (median age: 53 years, 33% male), 100 patients with compensated cirrhosis and 101 healthy subjects were included. The median TE-LSM in the PSVD patients (10.0 [7.0-13.0] kPa) was significantly lower than that in the cirrhotic patients (21.0 [15.0-28.0] kPa, p < .001) but was significantly higher than that in the healthy subjects (5.1 [4.6-6.0] kPa, p < .001). The AUROCs of TE-LSM for the discrimination of PSVD from the cirrhosis and healthy subjects were 0.886 (95% CI: 0.833-0.928) and 0.913 (95% CI: 0.864-0.949), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity to discriminate PSVD from compensated cirrhosis were 78.3% and 82.0%, respectively, at a cut-off of 13.6 kPa. Furthermore, portal fibrosis and aberrant cytokeratin 7 expression of centrilobular hepatocytes were significantly associated with higher TE-LSM (≥10.0 kPa).

CONCLUSION

TE-LSM can be used to differentiate PSVD from compensated cirrhosis. Pathological features in association with increased liver stiffness are identified.

Comparison of Obesity-Related Indicators for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Diagnosed by Transient Elastography

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study aimed to assess obesity-related indices in predicting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the United States. These indices were analyzed separately in previous studies, but evidence comparing them together was still lacking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed data from 8126 individuals in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and measured their body mass index (BMI), body roundness index (BRI), a body shape index, conicity index, body adiposity index, abdominal volume index (AVI), and waist-hip ratio. We used logistic analyses with odds ratios to evaluate the association between obesity-related indices and NAFLD and compared their diagnostic ability by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, areas under the curve (AUCs), and net reclassification improvement (NRI).

RESULTS

The AVI had the highest AUC (0.835 at controlled attenuation parameter [CAP] scores 263 dB/m and 0.831 at CAP scores 285 dB/m) in the ROC curve analysis. The AVI also showed better discriminatory ability than BMI (NRI = 0.0331 at CAP scores 263 dB/m and 0.0328 at CAP scores 285 dB/m), the same as BRI (NRI = 0.0283 at CAP scores 263 dB/m and 0.0272 at CAP scores 285 dB/m). In males, AVI (AUC = 0.8501 at CAP scores 263 dB/m and 0.8466 at CAP scores 285 dB/m) and BRI (AUC = 0.8517 at CAP scores 263 dB/m and 0.8497 at CAP scores 285 dB/m) had better predictive ability than BMI and similar to females. This was consistent across different age and race groups.

CONCLUSION

AVI and BRI were better predictors of NAFLD than BMI.

Clinical Performance of Transient Elastography With Comparison to Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ultrasound, and Biopsy in Children and Adolescents With Known or Suspected Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Performance of vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is inadequately validated in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to assess the technical performance of VCTE in pediatric NAFLD and define the agreement between VCTE and reference standards of imaging and/or biopsy. Methods: This prospective study recruited participants with known or suspected NAFLD who underwent a research VCTE examination (FibroScan Mini 430). Ten valid VCTE liver stiffness measurements (kPa) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) (dB/m) measurements were obtained for each participant. Available clinically acquired MR elastography and magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (PDFF), liver ultrasound shear wave elastography, and biopsy served as references standards. Results: Eighty-four consecutive participants were included (55 males, mean age 15.0 ± 3.5 years, mean BMI 36.6 ± 9.4 kg/m2). VCTE examinations were complete in 80/83 participants. 37/83 participants were examined with an XL probe. There was no significant correlation between CAP and PDFF [n = 16; r = 0.17 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.34 to 0.61), p = 0.5] or between VCTE liver stiffness and MR elastography stiffness [n = 27; r = 0.31 (95% CI: -0.07 to 0.62), p = 0.10]. For prediction of any fibrosis stage ≥1 on biopsy (n = 9/15 participants), VCTE median liver stiffness >5.1 kPA had an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.52 (95% CI: 0.26-0.78) with a sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 16.6% (p > 0.99). Conclusions: Complete VCTE examinations could be obtained in most pediatric patients with NAFLD. Neither VCTE liver stiffness nor CAP correlated well with measures of liver fat or stiffness by established imaging modalities and biopsy.

Validation of non-invasive diagnosis of CSPH in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease according to Baveno VII

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Baveno VII consensus introduced the non-invasive criteria of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) using liver stiffness measurement (LSM). We evaluated the usefulness of the Baveno VII criteria to predict the risk of decompensation in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1966 patients with cACLD. Patients were categorized into four groups (CSPH excluded (n = 619), grey zone (low risk of CSPH (n = 699), high risk of CSPH (n = 207)), and CSPH included (n = 441)) according to Baveno VII consensus. The risk of events was estimated using a Fine and Gray competing risk regression analysis, with liver transplantation and death as competing events. We calculated standardized hazard ratios (sHR) to assess the relative risk of decompensation.

RESULTS

Among 1966 patients, 178 developed decompensations over a median follow-up of 3.06 (IQR: 1.03-6.00) years. Patients with CSPH had the highest decompensation risk, followed by the grey zone high-risk group, grey zone low-risk group, and those without CSPH with 3-year cumulative risks of 22%, 12%, 3.3%, and 1.4% respectively (p < .001). Compared to CSPH excluded group, CSPH included group (sHR: 8.00, 95% CI: 4.00-16.0), grey zone high-risk group (sHR: 6.57, 95% CI: 3.16-13.6), grey zone low-risk group (sHR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.04-4.41) had significantly higher risk of decompensation (Gray's test p < .01).

CONCLUSION

Non-invasive diagnosis of CSPH according to the Baveno VII criteria can stratify the risk of decompensation.

Implementing Better Standard Instruments for Detecting Cirrhosis in Hepatitis C Patients

An increasing number of hepatitis C diagnoses in the younger population could partly be due to the rising opioid epidemic and intravenous drug use. Using hepatic venous portal gradient (HVPG) and liver stiffness tests, this study investigates better early diagnostic markers in identifying cirrhosis-related complications compared to percutaneous liver biopsy in hepatitis C patients. Scholarly journal articles were surveyed using PubMed and MeSH terms. Articles published more than 15 years ago were excluded. Various databases from the New England Journal of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were also referenced to support the hypothesis. There is substantial affirmation from cohort and clinical studies that transient elastography and HVPG can indicate advancing chronic inflammatory and fibrotic stages of cirrhosis in comparison to liver biopsy. Additionally, they are helpful in predicting overall mortality from complications such as esophageal varices. The use of liver stiffness measurements and HVPG appears to be equivalent and/or superior to liver biopsy in assessing advancing cirrhosis. As hepatitis C cases continue to rise, it is crucial to search for alternative methods to better suit the needs of the patients and to improve their overall prognosis and potential treatments. Liver biopsy as the gold standard for cirrhosis assessment is questionable when less invasive instrumental tools are available in practice that have been shown to predict progressing fibrosis.

Hepatic Involvement across the Metabolic Syndrome Spectrum: Non-Invasive Assessment and Risk Prediction Using Machine Learning

Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are inextricably linked conditions, both of which are experiencing an upward trend in prevalence, thereby exerting a substantial clinical and economic burden. The presence of MetS should prompt the search for metabolic-associated liver disease. Liver fibrosis is the main predictor of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Non-invasive tests (NIT) such as the Fibrosis-4 index (FIB4), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), hepatic steatosis index (HIS), transient elastography (TE), and combined scores (AGILE3+, AGILE4) facilitate the detection of liver fibrosis or steatosis. Our study enrolled 217 patients with suspected MASLD, 109 of whom were diagnosed with MetS. We implemented clinical and biological evaluations complemented by transient elastography (TE) to discern the most robust predictors for liver disease manifestation patterns. Patients with MetS had significantly higher values of FIB4, APRI, HSI, liver stiffness, and steatosis parameters measured by TE, as well as AGILE3+ and AGILE4 scores. Machine-learning algorithms enhanced our evaluation. A two-step cluster algorithm yielded three clusters with reliable model quality. Cluster 1 contained patients without significant fibrosis or steatosis, while clusters 2 and 3 showed a higher prevalence of significant liver fibrosis or at least moderate steatosis as measured by TE. A decision tree algorithm identified age, BMI, liver enzyme levels, and metabolic syndrome characteristics as significant factors in predicting cluster membership with an overall accuracy of 89.4%. Combining NITs improves the accuracy of detecting patterns of liver involvement in patients with suspected MASLD.

Fibroscan-Aspartate Aminotransferase Score Predicts Liver-Related Outcomes, but Not Extrahepatic Events, in a Multicenter Cohort of People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is frequent in people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). The Fibroscan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score was developed to identify patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and significant fibrosis. We investigated prevalence of NASH with fibrosis and the value of FAST score in predicting clinical outcomes in PWH.

METHODS

Transient elastography (Fibroscan) was performed in PWH without viral hepatitis coinfection from 4 prospective cohorts. We used FAST >0.35 to diagnose NASH with fibrosis. Incidence and predictors of liver-related outcomes (hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma) and extrahepatic events (cancer, cardiovascular disease) were evaluated through survival analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 1472 PWH included, 8% had FAST >0.35. Higher body mass index (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.21 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.14-1.29]), hypertension (aOR, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.16-4.34]), longer time since HIV diagnosis (aOR, 1.82 [95% CI, 1.20-2.76]), and detectable HIV RNA (aOR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.02-4.85]) were associated with FAST >0.35. A total of 882 patients were followed for a median of 3.8 years (interquartile range, 2.5-4.2 years). Overall, 2.9% and 11.1% developed liver-related and extrahepatic outcomes, respectively. Incidence of liver-related outcomes was higher in patients with FAST >0.35 versus FAST ≤0.35 (45.1 [95% CI, 26.2-77.7] vs 5.0 [95% CI, 2.9-8.6] per 1000 person-years). FAST >0.35 remained an independent predictor of liver-related outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.97 [95% CI, 1.97-12.51]). Conversely, FAST did not predict extrahepatic events.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of PWH may have NASH with significant liver fibrosis. FAST score predicts liver-related outcomes and can help management of this high-risk population.

Non-Invasive Measurement of Hepatic Fibrosis by Transient Elastography: A Narrative Review

Transient elastography by FibroScan® (Echosens, Paris, France) is a non-invasive method that can provide a reliable measurement of liver fibrosis through the evaluation of liver stiffness. Despite its limitations and risks, liver biopsy has thus far been the only procedure able to provide data to quantify fibrosis. Scientific evidence and clinical practice have made it possible to use FibroScan® in the diagnostic work-up of several liver diseases to monitor patients' long-term treatment response and for complication prevention. For these reasons, this procedure is widely used in clinical practice and is still being investigated for further applications. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the main applications of transient elastography in the current clinical practice.

Endotoxemia Associated with Liver Disease Correlates with Systemic Inflammation and T Cell Exhaustion in Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Both acute and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are characterized by inflammation. HCV and reduced liver blood filtration contribute to inflammation; however, the mechanisms of systemic immune activation and dysfunction as a result of HCV infection are not clear. We measured circulating inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IP10, sCD163, sCD14), indices of endotoxemia (EndoCab, LBP, FABP), and T cell markers of exhaustion and senescence (PD-1, TIGIT, CD57, KLRG-1) in HCV-infected participants, and followed a small cohort after direct-acting anti-viral therapy. IL-6, IP10, Endocab, LBP, and FABP were elevated in HCV participants, as were T cell co-expression of exhaustion and senescence markers. We found positive associations between IL-6, IP10, EndoCab, LBP, and co-expression of T cell markers of exhaustion and senescence. We also found numerous associations between reduced liver function, as measured by plasma albumin levels, and T cell exhaustion/senescence, inflammation, and endotoxemia. We found positive associations between liver stiffness (TE score) and plasma levels of IL-6, IP10, and LBP. Lastly, plasma IP10 and the proportion of CD8 T cells co-expressing PD-1 and CD57 decreased after initiation of direct-acting anti-viral therapy. Although associations do not prove causality, our results support the model that translocation of microbial products, resulting from decreased liver blood filtration, during HCV infection drives chronic inflammation that results in T cell exhaustion/senescence and contributes to systemic immune dysfunction.

Advanced liver fibrosis predicts heart failure and hospitalizations in people with type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study from Hong Kong Diabetes Register

AIMS

We aimed to examine the impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on the clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

Between 2013 and 2014, 1,734 patients with T2D underwent transient elastography (TE) to assess liver status indicated by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Liver steatosis was defined by CAP ≥248 dB/m and advanced liver fibrosis by LSM ≥10kPa. In 2019, we assessed their clinical outcomes including hospitalizations and mortality.

RESULTS

In this prospective cohort [56% men, mean (±standard deviation) age:60.8±11.5 years; glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c)7.8±1.6 %], 798 patients had liver steatosis, 296 patients had advanced liver fibrosis and 640 patients had normal liver at baseline. T2D with advanced liver fibrosis had higher body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, fasting plasma glucose, HbA_1c, blood pressure and lipid profiles than their counterparts with NAFLD or normal liver (all p<0.05). After a median follow-up of 6.07 (interquartile range:5.84 to 6.30) years, there were 4,403 incident hospitalizations, 32,119 days of hospital stay, and 171 deaths. Using Cox regression analysis, advanced liver fibrosis was associated with increased risk of heart failure (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] HR:3.07[1.08-8.68], p=0.035) and hospitalizations (HR: 1.39[1.14 -1.70], p=0.001) while liver steatosis was associated with reduced mortality (HR:0.60[0.41-0.87], p=0.007) compared to their counterparts with normal liver after adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

T2D comorbid with liver steatosis and advanced liver fibrosis are distinct clinical entities with differences in outcomes. Advanced liver fibrosis is an important predictor for worse outcomes including heart failure and hospitalizations in people with T2D.

Meta-analysis: Prevalence of significant or advanced fibrosis in adults with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of liver fibrosis detected by non-invasive imaging in alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency has not been systematically assessed.

AIMS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of significant fibrosis and advanced fibrosis in AAT deficiency based on non-invasive imaging.

METHODS

Medline and Embase electronic databases were searched for studies from inception to 13 November 2022 that provided data for the prevalence of fibrosis in adults with AAT deficiency. A generalised linear mixed model with Clopper-Pearson intervals was used to pool single-arm outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 214 records identified, 8 studies were included. Five studies assessed fibrosis using vibration-controlled transient elastography. The prevalence of significant fibrosis (defined as ≥7.1 kPA) in Z homozygosity, Z heterozygosity and non-carrier status was 22.10% (five studies, 95% CI: 17.07-28.12), 9.24% (three studies, 95% CI: 4.68-17.45) and 5.38% (one study, 95% CI: 3.27-8.73), respectively, p < 0.0001, and the prevalence of advanced fibrosis (defined as ≥9.5 kPa) was 8.13% (five studies, 95% CI: 4.60-13.96), 2.96% (three studies, 95% CI: 1.49-5.81) and 1.08% (one study, 95% CI: 0.35-3.28), respectively, p = 0.003. There were limited data regarding the use of magnetic resonance elastography or acoustic radiation force impulse to assess for fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

More than one in five adult individuals with AAT deficiency and Z homozygosity harbour significant fibrosis, and nearly 1 in 10 harbours advanced fibrosis. The risk of fibrosis increases incrementally with the frequency of Pi*Z mutations.

Comparison of Pathway Referrals for Liver Fibrosis Risk Stratification Performed in Diabetology and Nutrition Clinics

Purpose

A systematic screening for the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related advanced fibrosis is currently recommended in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. However, real-world data of such liver fibrosis risk stratification pathway from diabetology and nutrition clinics towards hepatology clinics are scarce. Therefore, we compared data from two pathways with or without transient elastography (TE) performed in diabetology and nutrition clinics.

Patients and Methods

This is a retrospective study comparing the proportion of patients with intermediate/high risk of advanced fibrosis (AF) as defined by a liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥8kPa, among patients referred in hepatology from two diabetology-nutrition departments at Lyon University Hospital, France between November 1st 2018 to December 31st 2019.

Results

Among the two diabetology and nutrition departments using TE or not, 27.5% (62/225) versus 44.2% (126/285) were referred to hepatology, respectively. The pathway using TE in diabetology and nutrition referred to hepatology a higher proportion of patients with intermediate/high risk of AF compared to the pathway without TE: 77.4% versus 30.9%, p<0.001. In the pathway with TE, the odds of patients with intermediate/high risk of AF referred to hepatology was significantly higher: OR: 7.7, 95% CI: 3.6-16.7, p<0.001 after adjustment for age, sex and presence of obesity and T2D compared to the pathway without TE in diabetology and nutrition clinics. However, among the patients not referred, 29.4% had an intermediate/high risk of AF.

Conclusion

A pathway-referral using TE performed in diabetology and nutrition clinics, significantly improves the liver fibrosis risk stratification and avoids over-referral. However, collaboration between diabetologist, nutritionists and hepatologists is needed to avoid under-referral.

Diagnostic Performance of Greyscale Ultrasound in Detecting Fatty Liver Disease in a Type 2 Diabetes Population Using FibroScan as the Reference Standard

Introduction Brightness mode ultrasound (B-mode US) and FibroScan (Echosens, Paris, France) are the two ultrasound methods often recommended for screening non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study assessed the diagnostic performance of B-mode US using FibroScan as the reference standard. Methods Persons with a known history of T2DM were invited to screen for NAFLD using B-mode US and FibroScan on separate days within a one-month period. Assessors of B-mode US and FibroScan were blinded to each other's findings. Both B-mode US and FibroScan independently assessed and graded each participant for the presence of NAFLD. Using the diagnostic test findings of FibroScan as a reference standard, the sensitivity and specificity of B-mode US were analyzed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was analyzed using Jamovi (version 2.3.21). A multinomial logistic regression of the B-mode US and FibroScan in predicting NAFLD grade was also analyzed. Results A total of 171 participants were assessed. B-mode US detected NAFLD in T2DM patients with 63.6% sensitivity, 65.6% specificity, and 0.646 AUROC. Sensitivity and specificity in overweight and obese participants were 36-43% and 76-85%, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression demonstrated an insignificant statistical relationship between FibroScan and B-mode US in predicting grade 1 steatosis (p-value = 0.397), which was significantly affected by a higher BMI (p-value = 0.034) rather than a higher liver fibrosis level (p-value = 0.941). The logistic regression further showed a significant relationship between B-mode US and FibroScan in predicting steatosis grade 2 (p-value = 0.045) and grade 3 (p-value < 0.001), which was not significantly affected by BMI (p-value = 0.091). Conclusion B-mode US can replace FibroScan for severe steatosis; however, it cannot be used to screen for NAFLD in T2DM patients due to lower sensitivity for early detection in the overweight.

The Replacement of Only One Portion of Starchy Carbohydrates with Green Leafy Vegetables Regresses Mid and Advanced Stages of NAFLD: Results from a Prospective Pilot Study

The gold standard treatment for NAFLD is weight loss and lifestyle interventions, which require a diet enriched in fiber and reduced in sugars and saturated fats. Fibres may be advantageous for NAFLD patients since they reduce and slow the absorption of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, lowering the energy density of the meal and increasing their sense of satiety. Furthermore, the polyphenol content and other bioactive compounds of vegetables have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties preventing disease progression. The aim of this study is to ascertain the effects of a diet enriched by green leafy vegetables and with a moderate restriction of carbohydrate intake in patients with NAFLD over a three month period. Among the forty patients screened, twenty four patients completed the clinical trial consisting of swapping one portion of carbohydrate-rich food for one portion of green leafy vegetables, and liver and metabolic markers of NAFLD were evaluated. All patients underwent routine blood tests, anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, fibroscan, and fatty liver index (FLI) evaluation before and at the end of the study. The population under study (n = 24) had a median age of 47.5 (41.5-52.5) years and included mainly women (70.8%). We found that FLI, which is used to predict fatty liver (73 (33-89) vs. 85 (54-95), p < 0.0001) and the FAST score, which is a fibroscan-derived parameter identifying patients at risk of progressive NASH (0.03 (0.02-0.09) vs. 0.05 (0.02-0.15), p = 0.007), were both improved after changes in diet. The BMI (33.3 (28.6-37.3) vs. 35.3 (31.2-39.0), p < 0.0001), WC (106.5 (95.0-112.5) vs. 110.0 (103.0-124.0), p < 0.0001), neck circumference (38.0 (35.0-41.5) vs. 39.5 (38.0-42.5), p < 0.0001), fat mass (32.3 (23.4-40.7) vs. 37.9 (27.7-43.5), p < 0.0001), and extracellular water (17.3 (15.2-20.8) vs. 18.3 (15.9-22.7), p = 0.03) were also all significantly lower after three months of diet. Metabolic parameters linked to NAFLD decreased: HbA1c (36.0 (33.5-39.0) vs. 38.0 (34.0-40.5), p = 0.01), triglycerides (72 (62-90) vs. 90 (64-132), p = 0.03), and the liver markers AST (17 (14-19) vs. 18 (15-27), p = 0.01) and γGT (16 (13-20) vs. 16 (14-27), p = 0.02). In conclusion, replacing only one portion of starchy carbohydrates with one portion of vegetables for a three month period is sufficient to regress, at least in part, both mid and advanced stages of NAFLD. This moderate adjustment of lifestyle habits is easily achievable.

Corrigendum: Associations between serum biomarkers and non-alcoholic liver disease: results of a clinical study of Mediterranean patients with obesity

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1002669.].

Agreement and reliability of hepatic transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis C: A cross‐sectional test–retest study

Background and Aims

Transient elastography (TE) has largely replaced liver biopsy to evaluate fibrosis stage and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C. Previous studies have reported excellent reliability of TE but agreement metrics have not been reported. This study aimed to assess interrater agreement and reliability of repeated TE measurements.

Methods

Two operators performed TE independently, directly after each other. The primary outcome was disagreement, defined as a difference in TE results between operators of ≥33%, as well as the smallest detectable change, SDC₉₅ (i.e., the difference between measurements needed to state with 95% certainty that there is a difference in underlying stiffness). Secondary outcomes included reliability, measured as intraclass correlation (ICC), and patient and examination characteristics associated with the agreement.

Results

In total, 65 patients were included, with a mean liver stiffness of 9.7 kPa. Of these, 21 (32%) had a disagreement in TE results of ≥33% between the two operators. The SDC₉₅ on the log scale was 1.97, indicating that an almost twofold increase or decrease in liver stiffness would be required to confidently represent a change in the underlying fibrosis. Reliability, estimated using the ICC, was acceptable at 0.86. In a post hoc analysis, fasting less than 5 h before TE was associated with a higher degree of disagreement (48% vs. 19%, p = 0.03).

Conclusions

In our clinical setting, interrater agreement in directly repeated TE measurements was surprisingly low. It is essential to further investigate the reliability and agreement of TE to determine its validity and usefulness.

Liver elastography can predict degree of advanced fibrosis for autoimmune hepatitis in biochemical remission

Background and Aim

The aim was to analyze the concordance of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) either by transient elastography (TE) or ARFI with liver biopsy in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients with biochemical remission and to identify those with histological remission. Liver biopsy is still the golden standard for AIH diagnosis. However, it is an invasive procedure and these patients, most of the time, require many biopsies, so it would be valuable to search for noninvasive method that could select all these patients and keep under observation.

Methods

Thirty-three patients with AIH were submitted for liver biopsy to evaluate histological remission after at least 18 months of normal aminotransferases. The efficiency of LSM and fibrosis stages was tested by a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (AUROC).

Results

One patient (3%) was F0, 6 (18.2%) were F1, 8 (24.2%) were F2, 10 (30.3%) were F3, and 8 (24.2%) were F4, according to METAVIR. Thirteen of thirty-three (39.4%) patients did not achieve histological remission. AUROC for F4 stage was 0.83 (IC: 0.76-0.99) for TE and 0.78 (IC: 0.65-0.95) for ARFI. Optimal LSM cutoff values were 12.3 kPa (Se = 87.5%, Sp = 88%) for TE and 1.65 m/s (Se = 87.5%, Sp = 76%) for ARFI. The tests were unable to differentiate patients with histological activity from those in histological remission (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

TE and ARFI accurately identify liver fibrosis by METAVIR score in AIH patients with biochemical remission. No cutoff value was detected to indicate whether the patient achieved histological remission.

Association between Liver Stiffness and Liver-Related Events in HCV-Infected Patients after Successful Treatment with Direct-Acting Antivirals

Background and Objectives: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are highly effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but the risk of liver-related events and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains after successful therapy. We aimed to evaluate post-treatment changes in liver stiffness (LS) and identify a cut-off LS value for predicting such events in chronic HCV-infected patients receiving DAA. Materials and Methods: A total of 185 patients who had achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) after DAA therapy were included. Baseline characteristics and laboratory results were retrospectively abstracted. LS was measured by transient elastography at baseline, 12, 24, 48, and 96 weeks after SVR. FIB-4 index was assessed at baseline and 48 weeks after SVR. Development of liver-related events (hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), portal-hypertension-related decompensation, listing for transplantation, and mortality) after SVR were identified. The association between liver fibrosis and the occurrence of liver-related events was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Results: Significant differences in LS values were observed between baseline and 24, 48, 72, and 96 weeks after SVR. FIB-4 index at 48 weeks after SVR was significantly lower than the FIB-4 index at baseline. During the 41.6-month follow-up time, the incidence rates of all liver-related events and HCC were 2.36 and 1.17 per 100 person-years, respectively. Age, LS ≥8 kPa, and FIB-4 ≥1.35 at 48 weeks post-SVR were significantly associated with the occurrence of any liver-related events. By multivariate analysis, LS ≥8 kPa at 48 weeks post-SVR remained significantly associated with any liver-related events, with an adjusted hazard ratio (95%CI) of 5.04 (1.01-25.26), p = 0.049. Conclusions: Despite a significant reduction in LS after SVR, patients with LS ≥8 kPa at 48 weeks after SVR should be regularly monitored for liver-related complications, particularly HCC development.

Association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis detected by transient elastography with serum retinol in American adults

Background and objective

Retinol is a precursor of vitamin A, which is metabolized and maintained in the liver and is involved in the pathogenesis of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis. The relationship between NAFLD and liver fibrosis with serum retinol levels remains insufficient and inconclusive. Our study aimed to investigate the correlation between NAFLD, fibrosis, and serum retinol levels in American adults.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using information from the 2017-2018 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The exposure factors were NAFLD and liver fibrosis status detected using transient elastography (TE), and the outcome was serum retinol levels. Weighted multivariate regressions were established to assess the correlation between NAFLD and liver fibrosis and serum retinol levels. Subgroup analyses were also performed.

Results

This study included 3,537 participants. Compared to the group without NAFLD, NAFLD was positively correlated with serum retinol levels (β = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.19, 2.37). In the subgroup analysis, a positive correlation between NAFLD and serum retinol levels was found in people aged < 60 years, Mexican Americans, and those with a body mass index (BMI) < 25. On the contrary, compared to the group without liver fibrosis, there was a significant negative association between liver fibrosis and serum retinol (β = -3.46, 95% CI: -5.16, -1.75), especially in people aged < 60 years, non-Hispanic white/black individuals, and people with a BMI ≥ 25.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that NAFLD status may be positively associated with serum retinol levels in adult patients, and liver fibrosis may be negatively associated with serum retinol levels. Further studies are required to examine the associations found in our study.

High accuracy of spleen stiffness measurement in diagnosing clinically significant portal hypertension in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) has been tested in a limited number of studies versus hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), especially with the 100 Hz spleen-specific module. The current study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of this novel module for detecting clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in a cohort of compensated patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) as the main aetiology and to improve the performance of the Baveno VII criteria for CSPH diagnosis by including SSM.

METHODS

This is a retrospective single-centre study including patients with available measurements of HVPG, Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and SSM by VCTE with the 100 Hz module. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve analysis was conducted to identify dual cut-offs (rule-out and rule-in) associated with the absence/presence of CSPH. The diagnostic algorithms were adequate if negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) were >90%.

RESULTS

A total of 85 patients were included, 60 MAFLD and 25 non-MAFLD. SSM showed a good correlation with HVPG (MAFLD: r = .74; p < .0001; non-MAFLD: r = .62; p < .0011). In MAFLD patients, SSM had a high accuracy in discarding/diagnosing CSPH (cut-off values of <40.9 and >49.9 kPa, AUC 0.95). The addition of these cut-offs in a sequential or combined approach to the Baveno VII criteria significantly reduced the grey zone (60% vs. 15%-20%), while maintaining adequate NPV and PPV.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the utility of SSM for diagnosing CSPH in MAFLD patients and demonstrate that the addition of SSM to the Baveno VII criteria increases accuracy.

Performance of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and transient elastography compared to liver biopsy for staging of liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Staging of liver fibrosis traditionally relied on liver histology; however, transient elastography (TE) and more recently two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) evolved to noninvasive alternatives. Hence, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 2D-SWE assessed by the Canon Aplio i800 ultrasound system using liver biopsy as reference and compared the performance to TE.

METHODS

In total, 108 adult patients with chronic liver disease undergoing liver biopsy, 2D-SWE and TE were enrolled prospectively at the University Hospital Zurich. Diagnostic accuracies were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) analysis, and optimal cut-off values by Youden's index.

RESULTS

Diagnostic accuracy of 2D-SWE was good for significant (≥F2; AUROC 85.2%, 95% confidence interval (95%CI):76.2-91.2%) as well as severe fibrosis (≥F3; AUROC 86.8%, 95%CI: 78.1-92.4%) and excellent for cirrhosis (AUROC 95.6%, 95%CI: 89.9-98.1%), compared to histology. TE performed equally well (significant fibrosis: 87.5%, 95%CI: 77.7-93.3%; severe fibrosis: 89.7%, 95%CI: 82.0-94.3%; cirrhosis: 96%, 95%CI: 90.4-98.4%), and accuracy was not statistically different to 2D-SWE. 2D-SWE optimal cut-off values were 6.5, 9.8 and 13.1 kPa for significant fibrosis, severe fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Performance of 2D-SWE was good to excellent and well comparable with TE, supporting the application of this 2D-SWE system in the diagnostic workup of chronic liver disease.

Splenic Arterial Pulsatility Index to Predict Hepatic Fibrosis in Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

The clinical utility of the splenic arterial pulsatility index (SAPI), a duplex Doppler ultrasonographic index, to predict the stage of hepatic fibrosis in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains elusive. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study to include 296 hemodialysis patients with HCV who underwent SAPI assessment and liver stiffness measurements (LSMs). The levels of SAPI were significantly associated with LSMs (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.413, p < 0.001) and different stages of hepatic fibrosis as determined using LSMs (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient: 0.529, p < 0.001). The areas under receiver operating characteristics (AUROCs) of SAPI to predict the severity of hepatic fibrosis were 0.730 (95% CI: 0.671-0.789) for ≥F1, 0.782 (95% CI: 0.730-0.834) for ≥F2, 0.838 (95% CI: 0.781-0.894) for ≥F3, and 0.851 (95% CI: 0.771-0.931) for F4. Furthermore, the AUROCs of SAPI were comparable to those of the fibrosis index based on four parameters (FIB-4) and superior to those of the aspartate transaminase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI). The positive predictive value (PPV) for ≥F1 was 79.5% when the Youden index was set at 1.04, and the negative predictive values (NPVs) for ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4 were 79.8%, 92,6%, and 96.9%, respectively, when the maximal Youden indices were set at 1.06, 1.19, and 1.30. The diagnostic accuracies of SAPI with the maximal Youden index for a fibrosis stage of ≥F1, ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4 were 69.6%, 67.2%, 75.0%, and 85.1%, respectively. In conclusion, SAPI can serve as a good noninvasive index in predicting the severity of hepatic fibrosis in hemodialysis patients with chronic HCV infection.

DAPS score - a novel score for prediction of significant fibrosis in incidentally detected asymptomatic hepatitis B subjects

Aim of the study

Significant fibrosis is an indication for treatment in hepatitis B patients with normal transaminase levels. The present study was aimed at analyzing the factors associated with significant fibrosis in incidentally detected asymptomatic hepatitis B subjects (IDAHS) and developing a model for fibrosis prediction for use in low-resource settings.

Material and methods

This is a single-center retrospective analysis of data on IDAHS who had undergone FibroScan. The variables associated with significant fibrosis in the derivation cohort were subjected to multivariate analysis by logistic regression. The model was applied to the validation cohort for fibrosis prediction.

Results

A total of 299 patients (mean age: 42.6 years, males: 63.2%) were included in the model derivation. Significant fibrosis was found in 27.4% (82/299) of the patients and 16.8% (30/178) of those with normal transaminase. On multivariate analysis, age, lower platelet count, and presence of diabetes were associated with fibrosis. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) was included in the model as it was nearing towards in multivariate analysis. The DAPS (diabetes, age, platelet count, SGPT) score was proposed with equal weightage to each variable. Based on the cumulative score, patients were categorized as having low risk (DAPS score 0-2) or high risk (DAPS score 3-4). The specificity of the model in derivation and validation cohorts was 98.2% and 97.6%, respectively, while the accuracy was 83.6% and 80%, respectively.

Conclusions

Approximately 17% of IDAHS with normal transaminase have significant fibrosis. The DAPS score can be used easily as a bedside tool for assessment of significant fibrosis in IDAHS with excellent specificity.

Splenomegaly is a marker of advanced chronic liver disease and portal hypertension in HIV infection

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical significance of splenomegaly as a marker of underlying liver disease in people with HIV (PWH).

METHODS

We included consecutive PWH from a prospective cohort from 2010 to 2020 with available liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and liver imaging to define splenomegaly (> 13 cm) within 1 year. Cut-offs of LSM > 10 kPa and > 21 kPa were used to identify advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) and portal hypertension, respectively. Logistic regression multivariable analysis was employed to identify independent predictors of ACLD.

RESULTS

In all, 331 PWH were included, 76% of them men, with a median (interquartile range) age of 51.3 (45-58) years, all receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 53% were HIV monoinfected. The PWH with splenomegaly exhibited a higher prevalence of ACLD compared with those with normal spleen size, as per LSM (26% vs. 9%; p = 0.009). Portal hypertension diagnosed by LSM was also more prevalent in PWH with splenomegaly than in those without (15% vs. 2%; p < 0.001). Independent predictors of ACLD were viral hepatitis coinfection [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-6.0], lower platelets (aOR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.99-0.99) and splenomegaly (aOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.17-4.99). In patients with available oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, splenomegaly was also associated with higher prevalence of oesophageal varices and other endoscopic findings of portal hypertension (38% vs. 17%; p = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Splenomegaly identified on routine imaging may have utility as a marker of ACLD and portal hypertension, prompting further investigations.

Prevalence and Significance of Autoantibody Seropositivity in Children with Wilson's Disease

Autoantibodies occur in healthy subjects as well as in children with Wilson's disease (WD), but their prevalence and significance are unknown. Thus, we aimed to assess the prevalence of autoantibodies and autoimmune markers, and their relationship to liver injury in WD children. The study included 74 WD and 75 healthy children as a control group. Patients with WD underwent transient elastography (TE) examinations, as well as determination of liver function tests, copper metabolism markers, and serum immunoglobulins (Ig). In the sera of the WD patients and controls, anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-smooth muscle, anti-mitochondrial, anti-parietal cell, anti-liver/kidney microsomal, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies, and specific celiac antibodies were determined. Among the autoantibodies, only the prevalence of ANA in children with WD was higher than in the controls. There was no significant relationship between the presence of autoantibodies and liver steatosis or stiffness after TE. However, advanced liver stiffness (E > 8.2 kPa) was related to IgA, IgG, and gamma globulin production. The type of treatment did not influence the prevalence of autoantibodies. Our results suggest that autoimmune disturbances in WD might not be directly related to liver damage as expressed by steatosis and/or liver stiffness after TE.