Real-time elastography (RTE): a valuable sonography-based non-invasive method for the assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B

Purpose

To investigate the diagnostic usefulness of real-time elastography (RTE) for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods

89 CHB patients were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsies, RTE, and blood testing were performed in all patients. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) were used to examine the diagnostic performance of liver fibrosis index (LFI) for the assessment of liver fibrosis.

Results

LFI differed significantly across histologic fibrosis stages (P < 0.05), except the comparison between S0 and S1 (P = 0.298). There was a strong positive correlation between LFI and histologic liver fibrosis stage (Spearman r = 0.831, P < 0.001). The cutoff LFI value of >2.74 indicated a sensitivity of 0.766 and a specificity of 0.872 for predicting significant liver fibrosis (S ≥ 2), and the cutoff LFI value of >3.61 indicated a sensitivity of 0.833 and a specificity of 0.878 for predicting early liver cirrhosis (S = 4). LFI showed higher AUROC for discriminating significant liver fibrosis (0.873 vs. 0.614) and early liver cirrhosis (0.923 vs. 0.769) than aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI).

Conclusions

RTE is a valuable sonography-based non-invasive method for assessment of liver fibrosis and has better discrimination power for significant liver fibrosis and early liver cirrhosis than APRI in CHB.

     

实时组织弹性成像诊断肝纤维化

目的 评价实时组织弹性成像(RTE)在诊断肝纤维化中的价值.方法 应用RTE对70例慢性乙型病毒性肝炎(乙肝)患者的肝脏纤维化程度进行评分,分为0～4分,0分为阴性,1～4为阳性,并与肝组织纤维化病理学分期进行对照.结果 RTE评为阳性者52例,评为阴性者18例,RTE诊断肝纤维化的敏感度、特异度、准确率分别为97.73%(43/44),65.38%(17/26)和85.71%(60/70).以RTE阳性作为肝纤维化的诊断标准,通过ROC曲线分析弹性图像硬度评分的曲线下面积为0.92.结论 RTE为诊断肝纤维化提供了新的手段,是一项具有发展前景的新的无创性的诊断方法.     

Kidney Transplant: Usefulness of Real-Time Elastography (RTE) in the Diagnosis of Graft Interstitial Fibrosis

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of real-time elastography (RTE) in the diagnosis of graft interstitial fibrosis. We prospectively enrolled 50 patients clinically suspected of graft fibrosis. RTE was performed with a broadband linear transducer using a dedicated ultrasound machine. Tissue mean elasticity (TME) was calculated by two blinded operators. All patients underwent biopsy after RTE. To determine cortical fibrosis Banff score was used. The receiver operating characteristic curves analysis was performed to evaluate the accuracy of TME to discriminate between patients with mild fibrosis (F1) versus patients with moderate to severe fibrosis (F2–F3). Inverse correlation between TME values and the degree of fibrosis has been shown (p < 0.05). Patients with F1 had mean TME values significantly higher compared with TME in patients with F2 (p = 0.005) and F3 (p = 0.004). The diagnostic accuracy of TME measurement for F2–F3 evaluated by area under the curve–receiver operating characteristic analysis was 0.95. RTE was able to evaluate kidney fibrosis in a non-invasive way and could be used as complementary imaging during follow-up of renal transplant patients.     

Hepatic venous pressure gradient correlates with advanced hepatic fibrosis: a retrospective review

Purpose

To determine if hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) correlates with advanced hepatic fibrosis, as a complement to transjugular (transvenous) core needle liver biopsy.

Materials and methods

After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review was conducted on 340 patients who underwent transjugular (transvenous) core needle liver biopsy with concurrent pressure measurements between 6/1/2007 and 6/1/2013. Spearman correlation and linear regression were performed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created and sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios were calculated.

Results

Indications included hepatitis C, abnormal liver function tests, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and cirrhosis, among others. Biopsies showed stage 1 or 2 fibrosis in 15.6% each, stage 3 fibrosis in 21.6%, stage 4 fibrosis in 40.7%, and no fibrosis in 6.5%. Mean HVPG was 6.5 mm Hg (SD 5.0) with a range of 0–26 mm Hg. Spearman correlation coefficient for association between HVPG and fibrosis stage was 0.561 (p < 0.001). R2 on linear regression was 0.247 (p < 0.001). ROC curve for the prediction of stage 4 fibrosis had an area under the curve of 0.79 (95% CI 0.73–0.85). HVPG of ≥6 mm Hg had a sensitivity of 71.3%, specificity of 79.6%, positive predictive value of 70.5%, negative predictive value of 80.2%, positive likelihood ratio of 3.49 (95% CI 2.45–4.97) and negative likelihood ratio of 0.36 (95% CI 0.26–0.50) for diagnosis of stage 4 fibrosis.

Conclusions

HVPG correlates with stage 4 (advanced) hepatic fibrosis.

     

实时超声弹性成像诊断慢性肝病肝纤维化

目的探讨实时超声弹性成像(RTE)评价肝纤维化的价值。方法对88例慢性病毒性肝炎患者进行RTE扫查,测量肝组织/肋间肌肉组织的应变比。全部患者均接受经皮肝穿刺术并采集血清生化学指标,将应变比与实验室检测结果与肝纤维化病理分期进行对照。结果应变比与肝纤维化病理分期呈负相关(r=-0.82,P<0.01)。以肝明显纤维化(≥S2期)作为诊断标准,应变比的ROC曲线下面积为0.92,优于天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶/血小板比例指数(0.90)和Forns指数(0.84);以应变比1.10作为诊断肝明显纤维化的最佳诊断界值,其敏感度为86.84%,特异度为82.00%,阳性预测值为78.57%,阴性预测值为89.13%。结论 RTE可作为无创判断肝纤维化程度的新方法。     

Liver elasticity in NASH patients evaluated with real-time elastography (RTE)

Liver elasticity as assessed by real-time elastography (RTE) has been shown to be correlated to liver fibrosis in various chronic liver diseases. The aim of our study was to assess the RTE performance in the evaluation of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as the histopathologic variables determining the eventual discordance between the RTE-predicted and the biopsy-proven fibrosis. Fifty-two consecutive biopsy proven NASH patients and 20 controls were studied. Liver tissue elasticity measurements were performed using the Hitachi EUB-8500 sonographer and the EUP-L52 Linear (3–7 MHz) probe. RTE liver tissue mean elasticity (TME) values were calculated and correlated to the histologic fibrosis, activity and steatosis scores. A decrease in TME was observed with increasing fibrosis (r = −0.75). Similarly, TME varied together consistently with steatosis (r = −0.3). In contrast, TME did not show any correlation with the severity of inflammation. Multiple regression analysis showed that fibrosis was the only variable able to significantly (p < 0.0001) modify TME values. The diagnostic accuracy of TME measurement for F > 0 evaluated by AUC-ROC analysis was 0.86. The diagnostic accuracy of TME measurement for F ≥ 2 was 0.92. We suggest that RTE could be used as a complementary imaging method to evaluate liver fibrosis in NASH patients. Future studies of larger patient cohorts are necessary for the validation of the technique.     

Replacement of hystological findings: serum hyaluronic acid for fibrosis, high-sensitive C-reactive protein for necroinflamation in chronic viral hepatitis

Because of limitations in biopsy procedure, several non-invasive tests have been developed for predicting the histological findings in chronic hepatitis. A fibrosis (F) score 1 or above and necroinflammation [histological activity index (HAI)] score 4 or above are required to initiate the treatment in chronic viral hepatitis. Literature includes many studies on hyaluronic acid (HA) as a non-invasive procedure in predicting histological findings but lacks on high-sensitive-C-reactive protein (hsCRP). We evaluated the diagnostic value of HA and hsCRP in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Ninety-eight subjects (42 chronic viral hepatitis, 28 cirrhosis and 28 healthy controls) were included in the study. Liver biopsies were performed on 42 chronic hepatitis patients and assessed by Ishak scoring system. All sera were stored at -70 degrees C until assay. Many laboratory parameters related to viral hepatitis, HA and hsCRP were studied following the instructions. We tried to determine a cut-off value for HA to represent > or =F1 score and that for hsCRP to represent > or =4 HAI score. Hepatitis B virus was the predominant aetiology of chronic hepatitis in our study. Mean HA levels were 113, 754 and 24 ng/ml in patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and controls, respectively (anova, p < 0.001). A HA level >64.7 ng/ml had a 100% specificity for diagnosing chronic hepatitis. A value > or =154 ng/ml had a 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 90% negative predictive value for diagnosing liver cirrhosis (Area 1.00; p < 0.0001). A cut-off value of 63 ng/ml for HA had a 100% specificity for diagnosing fibrosis score > or =1 in chronic hepatitis (Area 0.86; p < 0.001). An hsCRP level >0.56 mg/dl had a 100% specificity and 12% sensitivity for diagnosing chronic hepatitis (Area 0.71; p = 0.002), while cut-off of 0.53 mg/dl had 75% specificity for diagnosing HAI > or = 4 in chronic hepatitis (Area 0.32; p = 0.132). This study supported the HA level in predicting fibrosis score > or =1 with a cut-off value of 63 ng/ml. Cut-off of 154 ng/ml had a strong worth for cirrhosis. A cut-off of hsCRP for predicting HAI score > or =4 warrants further evaluation in wider study populations. We concluded that we are a bit closer to the strategy for guiding therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis, without a liver biopsy.     

Real-time tissue elastography (RTE) for noninvasive evaluation of fibrosis in liver diseases in children in comparison to liver biopsy

Purpose

To determine the value of real-time tissue elastography (RTE) in pediatric liver diseases in comparison to liver biopsy.

Methods

RTE was performed on 34 patients (♀, n = 17; ♂, n = 17; range 0–21 years) with various acute and chronic liver diseases: autoimmune hepatitis (n = 5), liver transplantation (n = 5), Wilson’s disease (n = 4), hepatopathy of unknown origin (n = 4), unclear cholestatic hepatitis (n = 2), thalassemia major (n = 2), glycogenosis (n = 2), hereditary fructose intolerance (n = 1), alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (n = 1), diabetes mellitus type 1 (n = 1), chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (n = 1), primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 1), hepatitis B (n = 1), cirrhosis of unknown origin (n = 1), drug-induced hepatopathy (n = 1), unexplained transaminase elevation (n = 1), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (n = 1). Included children were biopsied. RTE was performed on a control group (n = 30; ♀, n = 15; ♂, n = 15). The mean value of strain (MEAN) in arbitrary units and the ratio of blue color-coded harder tissue (AREA) were calculated based on an elasticity histogram of the selected region of interest in liver parenchyma. They were compared with the histologically defined grade of liver fibrosis.

Results

In comparison to the scoring systems, a moderate correlation was observed for MEAN and AREA by excluding the F0 patients [MEAN r = ?0.575 to ?0.645, AREA r = 0.545–0.607 (p < 0.05)]. Differentiation of the control group and low-grade fibrosis (F1) from high-grade fibrosis (F2–4) was significantly possible (p values <0.001 at 5 % significance level).

Conclusion

RTE parameters enable a possible differentiation of high fibrosis; however, their correlation with fibrosis stage was moderate. RTE seems to be a promising method in liver fibrosis grading in children.     

Intrahepatic Transit Time Predicts Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Quantitative Assessment with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography

We investigated the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with quantitative measurements to assess the stages of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. One-hundred twenty-two patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided into three groups according to the Scheuer scoring system pathologically and according to clinical evidence: mild fibrosis (S0 and S1, n = 36); moderate fibrosis (S2 and S3, n = 24); and cirrhosis (S4 and clinically typical cirrhosis, n = 62). CEUS of hepatic vessels and parenchyma was performed using the Cadence contrast pulse sequencing technique, with an intravenous bolus injection of a contrast agent (SonoVue). Real-time CEUS imaging of the liver was recorded and analyzed offline. Contrast arrival time, baseline, and peak intensity in the hepatic artery, portal vein, right hepatic vein, and liver parenchyma were used to calculate intrahepatic transit times, hepatic artery to hepatic vein transit time (HA-HVTT) and portal vein to hepatic vein transit time (PV-HVTT), as well as increased signal intensity (ISI). The correlations between these quantitative parameters and the stages of fibrosis were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients. HA-HVTT and PV-HVTT were shortened gradually with the progression of liver fibrosis. PV-HVTT was statistically significant differences existed between the two paired groups (mild vs. moderate vs. cirrhosis groups, p < 0.001), whereas HA-HVTT was changed significantly between mild and moderate or cirrhosis groups (p < 0.001). HA-HVTT and PV-HVTT changes were significantly correlated with liver fibrosis severity (r = −0.5930, p < 0.001; r = −0.8215, p < 0.001). Area under receiver operating characteristic curves for HA-HVTT and PV-HVTT were 0.891 ± 0.034 and 0.955 ± 0.020 at fibrosis scores ≥S2, and 0.785 ± 0.040 and 0.946 ± 0.018 at fibrosis score ≥S4, respectively. ISI values in the portal vein and liver parenchyma decreased with the severity of fibrosis. This study demonstrated that hepatic CEUS with quantitative measurements of intrahepatic transit time reflected the severity of liver fibrosis. The real-time CEUS imaging with use of software-based quantitative analysis could provide reliable information of hepatic hemodynamic changes to noninvasively assess the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. (E-mail: ding.hong@zs-hospital.sh.cn)     

Accuracy of liver surface nodularity quantification on MDCT for staging hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus

Purpose

To evaluate semi-automated measurement of liver surface nodularity (LSN) on MDCT in a cause-specific cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) for identification of hepatic fibrosis (stages F0–4).

Methods

MDCT scans in patients with known HCV were evaluated with an independently validated, semi-automated LSN measurement tool. Consecutive LSN measurements along the anterior liver surface were performed to derive mean LSN scores. Scores were compared with METAVIR fibrosis stage (F0–4). Fibrosis stages F0–3 were based on biopsy results within 1 year of CT. Most patients with cirrhosis (F4) also had biopsy within 1 year; the remaining cases had unequivocal clinical/imaging evidence of cirrhosis and biopsy was not indicated.

Results

288 patients (79F/209M; mean age, 49.7 years) with known HCV were stratified based on METAVIR fibrosis stage: F0 (n = 43), F1 (n = 29), F2 (n = 53), F3 (n = 37), and F4 (n = 126). LSN scores increased with increasing fibrosis (mean: F0 = 2.3 ± 0.2, F1 = 2.4 ± 0.3, F2 = 2.6 ± 0.5, F3 = 2.9 ± 0.6, F4 = 3.8 ± 1.0; p < 0.001). For identification of significant fibrosis (≥ F2), advanced fibrosis (≥ F3), and cirrhosis (≥ F4), the ROC AUCs were 0.88, 0.89, and 0.90, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for significant fibrosis (≥ F2) using LSN threshold of 2.80 were 0.68 and 0.97; for advanced fibrosis (≥ F3; threshold = 2.77) were 0.83 and 0.85; and for cirrhosis (≥ F4, LSN threshold = 2.9) were 0.90 and 0.80.

Conclusion

Liver surface nodularity assessment at MDCT allows for accurate discrimination of intermediate stages of hepatic fibrosis in a cause-specific cohort of patients with HCV, particularly at more advanced levels.

     

New Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B

Objective. A novel parameter acquired from conventional B‐mode sonographic videos was introduced in this study, and its diagnostic accuracy for evaluation of hepatic fibrosis was investigated. Methods. Twenty‐eight patients with chronic hepatitis B and 8 patients with hepatic cysts in the right lobe (controls) were enrolled. B‐mode sonographic videos of hepatic motion under the ensisternum in the sagittal plane were captured during peaceful breathing. Maximal accumulative respiration strain (MARS) values of hepatic tissue were obtained after image analysis. METAVIR scoring after liver biopsy was considered the standard. First, the relationship between MARS and the fibrotic stage was studied; and second, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the accuracy of MARS for evaluation of the fibrotic stage. Results. When the transducer was placed in the sagittal imaging plane under the ensisternum during the whole respiratory period, the hepatic tissue motion was almost in the same plane. The MARS values (mean ± SD) were 29.44% ± 10.44% in the F0 group (no fibrosis; n = 8), 19.30% ± 9.10% in the F1 group (portal fibrosis without septa; n = 8), 18.09% ± 7.36% in the F2–F3 group (portal fibrosis with few septa or numerous septa without cirrhosis; n = 12), and 14.16% ± 4.18% in the F4 group (cirrhosis; n = 8). The Spearman correlation coefficient between MARS and the fibrotic stage was 0.516 (P = .001). The diagnostic accuracy rates, expressed as areas under the ROC curves, were 0.87 for mild fibrosis (F ≥ 1), 0.72 for substantial fibrosis (F ≥ 2), and 0.75 for cirrhosis (F = 4). Conclusions. Maximal accumulative respiration strain attained from B‐mode sonographic videos of hepatic tissue is a new, convenient, economical, and promising noninvasive parameter for assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.     

实时组织弹性成像在评估肝纤维化程度中的诊断价值

目的探讨实时组织弹性成像在评估肝纤维化程度中的诊断价值。方法选择我院住院收治的慢性肝炎患者156例,另选择同期健康体检者60例为对照组。行实时组织弹性成像检查和肝穿刺活体组织检查,分析实时组织弹性成像检测结果与肝组织纤维化程度及炎症程度的关系。结果肝纤维化弹性成像评分在肝炎各组及肝纤维化组不同病理分期的差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。经Spearman等级相关分析显示,肝纤维实时组织弹性成像评分与病理学分期密切相关,呈正相关（r=0.846,P〈0.01）。实时弹性成像诊断肝纤维化的敏感度、特异度和准确度分别为94.5%、80.9%和90.4%。结论 RTE诊断肝纤维化具有较高的临床价值,是一项具有广阔应用前景的新的无创性诊断方法。     

Quantification of Liver Viscoelasticity with Acoustic Radiation Force: A Study of Hepatic Fibrosis in a Rat Model

Ultrasound elastography, based on shear wave propagation, enables the quantitative and non-invasive assessment of liver mechanical properties such as stiffness and has been found to be feasible for and useful in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. Most ultrasound elastographic methods use a purely elastic model to describe liver mechanical properties. However, to describe tissue that is dispersive and to obtain an accurate measure of tissue elasticity, the viscoelasticity of the tissue should be examined. The objective of this study was to investigate the shear viscoelastic characteristics, as measured by ultrasound elastography, of liver fibrosis in a rat model and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of viscoelasticity for staging liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced in 37 rats using carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄); 6 rats served as controls. Liver viscoelasticity was measured in vitro using shear waves induced by acoustic radiation force. The measured mean values of liver elasticity and viscosity ranged from 0.84 to 3.45 kPa and from 1.12 to 2.06 Pa·s for fibrosis stages F0–F4, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients indicated that stage of fibrosis was well correlated with elasticity (0.88) and moderately correlated with viscosity (0.66). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.97 (≥F2), 0.91 (≥F3) and 1.00 (F4) for elasticity and 0.91 (≥F2), 0.79 (≥F3) and 0.74 (F4) for viscosity, respectively. The results confirmed that shear wave velocity was dispersive in frequency, suggesting a viscoelastic model to describe liver fibrosis. The study finds that although viscosity is not as good as elasticity for staging fibrosis, it is important to consider viscosity to make an accurate estimation of elasticity; it may also provide other mechanical insights into liver tissues.     

Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index – a reliable predictor of therapeutic efficacy and improvement of Ishak score in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleoside analogues

Background No studies have investigated the predictive and monitoring efficacy of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in chronic hepatitis B patients undergoing antiviral therapy based on paired Ishak biopsies pre- and post-treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in monitoring fibrosis improvement in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleoside analogue or interferon. Methods Pre- and post-treatment Ishak fibrosis scores of 86 nucleoside-analogue- and 42 interferon-treated patients were retrospectively analyzed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated. Results In nucleoside-analogue-treated patients, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.80 and 0.91 when aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was used to diagnose fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. When the decreased magnitude of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was ≥ 0.35, the sensitivity and specificity of predicting fibrosis improvement were 75.8% and 75.0%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.53 when aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index was used to diagnose fibrosis in 20 interferon-treated patients, while an insufficient patient number in the cirrhosis group prevented the calculation of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The same is true for the remaining 22 interferon-treated patients. Conclusions Our study is the first to demonstrate the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index as a reliable marker in diagnosing and monitoring fibrosis improvement in nucleoside-analogue-treated patients based on paired Ishak biopsies pre- and post-treatment, but the test is not applicable in interferon therapy.     

Comparative Study Between the Diagnostic Performance of Point and 2-D Shear-Wave Elastography for the Non-invasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Using Transient Elastography as Reference

The study compared the diagnostic performance of two shear-wave elastography techniques, elastography point quantification (ElastPQ) and 2-D shear-wave elastography by General Electric (2-D-SWE.GE), for the non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in a cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, using transient elastography (TE) as the reference method. There was no significant difference between the feasibility rates of TE, ElastPQ and 2-D-SWE.GE (p = 0.507). A good correlation was found between the liver stiffness (LS) values obtained using the two elastographic methods (r = 0.78). The mean LS values obtained using the ElastPQ technique were significantly higher than those obtained using 2-D-SWE.GE (12.1 ± 7.3 kPa vs. 10.4 ± 4.0 kPa, p < 0.0001). Pairwise comparisons of receiver operator characteristics curves between 2-D-SWE.GE and ElastPQ have shown that there are no significant differences in their performance for staging F ≥ 2 fibrosis (p = 0.89), F ≥ 3 fibrosis (p = 0.76) and F = 4 fibrosis (p = 0.86) in patients with chronic HCV infection.     

实时剪切波弹性成像检测急性肝炎肝脏弹性

目的 应用实时剪切波弹性技术测量急性肝炎患者肝脏弹性, 探讨其与肝功能的相关性。方法 对50例急性肝炎患者(急性肝炎组)及50名健康志愿者(正常组)行肝脏实时剪切波弹性测量, 比较急性肝炎组与正常组、急性病毒性肝炎与急性药物性肝炎患者肝脏弹性值差异, 对急性肝炎组肝脏剪切波弹性值与肝功能指标进行相关性分析。结果 急性肝炎组剪切波弹性值明显高于正常组[10.12±3.63] vs [4.96±0.72]kPa, P <0.05)];急性病毒性肝炎与急性药物性肝炎患者肝脏剪切波弹性值差异无统计学意义[9.11±3.03] vs [10.86±3.89]。急性肝炎组剪切波弹性值与总胆红素和直接胆红素之间呈正相关(r=0.305、0.304, P均 <0.05), 与肝功能其他指标间无相关性(P均 >0.05)。结论 急性肝炎中肝脏硬度增加, 实时剪切波弹性成像可通过检测剪切波弹性值对其进行定量评估, 为临床诊断急性肝炎提供有价值的参考。     

Compensated hepatitis C: unenhanced MR imaging correlated with pathologic grading and staging

Abstract Background We prospectively examined unenhanced MR imaging findings in relation to pathologic fibrosis, inflammation and steatosis in patients with compensated chronic hepatitis C viral infection (HCV). Methods Unenhanced MRI at 1.5 T was obtained within one month of core liver biopsy in 64 consecutive candidates for antiviral therapy for compensated HCV. Two pathologists independently graded inflammatory activity index (HAI) and steatosis, and staged fibrosis (grades 0–6). Morphologic MRI findings of cirrhosis, periportal lymph nodes, and MR fat signal ratio from dual gradient echo images were assessed independently by two radiologists blinded to clinical data. MRI and laboratory liver function results were correlated with pathologic results, using Spearman correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results MR fat signal ratio correlation coefficient with pathologic steatosis was 0.71 (p < 0.0001). Coefficients with fibrosis stage were highest for surface nodularity (r _s = 47, p < 0.0001) and expanded gallbladder fossa (r _s = 0.42, p = 0.0006). Coefficients with HAI were highest for lymph node size (r _s = 0.355, p = 0.0040), surface nodularity (r = 0.47, p < 0.0001), expanded gallbladder fossa (r = 0.332, p = 0.0073), and caudate/right lobe ratio (r = 0.326, p = 0.0110). Combined lab and MRI variables provided the best prediction of fibrosis stage (r ² = 0.656) and HAI (r ² = 0.597). Conclusions A combination of MRI and laboratory findings was most predictive of fibrosis and inflammation.     

Predicting chemotherapeutic response for colorectal liver metastases using relative tumor enhancement of gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Purpose

This study aimed to predict the treatment response for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) using relative tumor enhancement (RTE) of the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) for patients with no history of chemotherapy.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective study, we enrolled 26 patients [14 males, 12 females; median age: 58 years (range 37–82 years)] with CLM and no history of chemotherapy between December 2011 and May 2017. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed before starting chemotherapy and RTE of HBP. The response was evaluated using RECIST ver.1.1, and progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated.

Results

Based on the RECIST ver.1.1, there were 15 responders and 11 non-responders. In the tumor, the mean pretreatment RTE values were significantly higher in the responders group than in the non-responders group (37.2% ± 10.9% vs. 17.9% ± 10.5%, respectively; P = 0.0006). When the threshold values of parameters for detecting responders comprised the RTE value of 24.2% (area under the curve value, 0.90), the sensitivity and specificity were 93.3% and 72.7%, respectively. The median follow-up period for 26 patients was 602 days (range 160–1971 days). Although no significant differences were observed in PFS between the groups, the high RTE group tended to take longer to progress than the low RTE group (PFS of the high RTE group did not reach the median).

Conclusion

This study suggests that the RTE value of CLM could be a potential biomarker to predict early treatment response.

     

Plasma osteopontin concentration correlates with the severity of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in HCV-infected subjects

BackgroundThe association between OPN level and the histological severity of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in hepatitis C virus (HCV) induced liver fibrosis remains unknown.Methods120 chronic HCV-infected subjects and 75 controls were enrolled in this study. Assessment of liver histology was performed based on liver biopsy. Plasma OPN levels were determined.ResultsSignificant differences were noted in the mean plasma OPN levels between subjects with extensive fibrosis and those with mild fibrosis (4.29 ± 1.01 ng/ml vs. 2.15 ± 0.63 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). Similarly, the subjects with higher histological activity index (HAI) score had elevated OPN levels than those with mild HAI score (4.41 ± 1.11 ng/ml vs. 2.25 ± 0.94 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). The correlation between the plasma OPN levels and the severity of liver fibrosis degree and HAI score were noted (r = 0.945, and r = 0.788, respectively both p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that serum OPN was an independent risk factor contributing to extensive liver fibrosis and inflammation (p = 0.0018 and p < 0.001, respectively) in patients with HCV subjects.ConclusionThe plasma OPN level is correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis and inflammation, suggesting OPN could be used as a biomarker to evaluate the severity of liver damages in HCV subjects.