The AIM of our study was to evaluate the results of transient elastography assessment of liver stiffness (LS) in various categories of patients.
Material and method: We performed transient elastography in 986 patients. We evaluated: the percentage of cases in which valid measurements could be obtained; the values of LS in 40 patients with no history of chronic liver disease ("normal" patients); 44 inactive HBsAg carriers; 173 patients with proven liver cirrhosis; and the correlation between liver biopsy results and LS in 93 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis.
Results: We obtained valid measurements of LS in 94.6% of the 986 cases. Male gender, younger age and low BMI were positive predictive factors for obtaining valid measurements. The mean values of LS were: 5.2+/-1.3 kPa in "normal" patients, 5.8+/-2.6 kPa in inactive HBsAg carriers, 37.2+/-20.9 kPa in patients with liver cirrhosis. In patients with chronic HCV hepatitis, we found that the mean value of LS in those with METAVIR F>=2 was 8.5+/-4.2 kPa, higher than in those with F<2: 5.3+/-1.4 kPa (p=0.0017). In patients with F>=3, the mean value of LS was 11.1+/-4.3 kPa, significantly higher than in patients with F<3: 6.1+/-2.5 kPa (p<0.0001).
Conclusions: Liver stiffness, as a marker of fibrosis, can be evaluated by means of transient elastography in a great majority of patients. It is a useful method for the exclusion of significant liver fibrosis and for predicting liver cirrhosis. As compared to liver biopsy, transient elastography can discern significant fibrosis from no or mild fibrosis.