声辐射力脉冲技术和天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶与血小板比值指数评价家兔肝纤维化

目的 探讨声辐射力脉冲（ARFI）技术和天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶与血小板比值指数（APRI）评价家兔肝纤维化模型的价值。方法 应用硫代乙酰胺（TAA）对32只家兔以皮下注射的方法建立肝纤维化模型,以8只家兔作为对照组。于首次注射后第4、8、12周分批应用ARFI获取剪切波速度（SWV）,计算APRI,取其肝脏行病理肝纤维化分期。以病理检查结果为金标准,比较SWV和APRI指数对家兔肝纤维化分期的诊断价值。结果 共29只家兔造模成功,其中肝纤维化分期为S1、S2、S3和S4期者分别为10、8、7和4只。SWV值和APRI均随纤维化程度加重而增高（P<0.05）。SWV（r=0.724,P<0.05）和APRI（r=0.555,P<0.05）与肝纤维化病理分级均存在相关性。SWV和APRI诊断家兔肝纤维化S≥1、S≥2、S≥3、S=4的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.92、0.81,0.87、0.78,0.82、0.76,0.89、0.79。SWV和APRI联合诊断S≥3的AUC为0.84,敏感度为81.80%,特异度为73.10%,阳性预测值为56.23%,阴性预测值为90.48%。结论 ARFI技术与APRI可定量评估家兔肝纤维化程度,ARFI技术的价值较高。     

声脉冲辐射力弹性成像评价儿童肝纤维化的临床应用

目的：探讨声脉冲辐射力弹性成像评价儿童肝纤维化程度的临床应用价值。 方法：采用声脉冲辐射力弹性成像技术对70例患有儿童常见肝病的患儿及50例健康志愿者分别进行弹性成像检测及血清学检测,血清学检查的主要指标为谷草转氨酶（AST）与血小板计数（PLT）之比（APRI）,将病例组弹性成像测值SWV值及血清学检测APRI比值分别与肝纤维化METAVIR分级进行相关性分析,并将SWV值与APRI比值进行比较,评价弹性成像SWV值在评价儿童肝纤维化的临床应用价值。 结果：SWV值与儿童肝纤维化程度成正相关（相关系数0.71,P＜0.05）,SWV值随着肝纤维化程度的加重而增加,各病理肝纤维化分级的肝脏平均SWV值分别为：F1 1.57±0.30 m/s,F2 1.89±0.32 m/s,F3 2.14±0.36 m/s,F4 2.59±0.22 m/s。APRI值与肝纤维化程度不相关（相关系数=-0.02,P＞0.05）。肝纤维化分级≥F1时,最大约登指数对应的的SWV值为1.73 m/s（se 54.30%,sp 100.00%）;肝纤维化分级≥F2时,最大约登指数对应的的SWV值为1.67 m/s（se 89.50%,sp 74.50%）;肝纤维化分级≥F3时,最大约登指数对应的的SWV值为1.83 m/s（se 84.60%,sp 83.30%）。受试者工作特征曲线下面积(AUROC)分别为0.823,0.895,0.907。 结论：声脉冲辐射力弹性成像在无创评价儿童肝纤维化方面有较高的临床价值,尤其能更精准评价中重度肝纤维化程度,为儿童肝病的诊断、治疗及疾病随访提供重要影像学依据。     

二维剪切波弹性成像与瞬时弹性成像对慢性乙型肝炎患者肝纤维化诊断效能的比较探讨

目的 探讨二维剪切波弹性成像(2D-SWE)与瞬时弹性成像（TE）对慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者肝纤维化分期诊断价值的比较。方法 选取我院临床确诊的148例CHB患者,分别行2D-SWE及TE检查,以超声引导下肝组织穿刺活检病理结果作为金标准,比较分析两种弹性成像评估肝纤维化分期的诊断效能。结果2D-SWE及TE的弹性均值与病理肝纤维化分期呈显著正相关（r =0.914、0.783）;不同病理分期的两种检查方法平均弹性值组间差异均有统计学意义（P ＜0.05）,且均随肝纤维化分期的加重而增加;构建受试者工作特性曲线（ROC曲线）比较两者的诊断效能得出2D-SWE诊断显著性肝纤维化（S2～S4）的ROC曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.973、0.976及0.972,TE诊断显著性肝纤维化的AUC分别为0.903、0.909及0.904,2D-SWE各期诊断效能均优于TE（S2:Z=3.062、S3：Z=3.379、S4：Z=2.539,P均＜0.05）。结论 2D-SWE与TE技术在无创诊断CHB肝纤维化程度方面具有相似的诊断价值,但2D-SWE技术优于TE,更具有临床应用价值。     

实时组织弹性成像对慢性病毒性肝炎肝纤维化分期的评估

目的 评估实时组织弹性成像对慢性病毒性肝炎肝纤维化分期的诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析61例慢性病毒性肝炎患者和20例健康者的弹性参数,计算弹性指数,评估不同程度的肝纤维化分期与弹性指数之间的关系.结果 弹性指数与肝纤维化分期具有显著正相关,相关系数r=0.875,(P＜0.001).除S2与S3期的弹性指数之间无显著性差异外,其余各组之间均有显著性差异(P＜0.05);S≥S2、S≥S3、S=S4对应的ROC曲线面积分别为0.911、0.904、0.896.结论 搭载了组织弥散定量分析功能的实时组织弹性成像对慢性病毒性肝炎肝纤维化分期具有好的诊断价值.     

ARFI与APRI指数对非酒精性脂肪性肝病肝纤维化的诊断价值

目的：本研究应用声辐射力脉冲成像（Acoustic radiation force impulse, ARFI）技术和APRI（AST/PLT ratio index）指数对非酒精性脂肪性肝病（Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD）患者进行检测,探讨和对比上述两项无创技术在诊断NAFLD肝纤维化程度上的临床应用价值。方法：对67例NAFLD患者应用ARFI技术检测肝脏超声弹性,并计算APRI指数,所有患者均于检测后1周内行肝脏穿刺活检,以病理检查结果为金标准,比较ARFI技术和APRI指数对NAFLD肝纤维化的诊断价值。结果：NAFLD患者肝纤维化分期为S0~S4期的ARFI和APRI平均值分别为（1.177±0.281） m/s（APRI 0.192±0.155）,（1.249±0.308） m/s（APRI 0.190±0.097）,（1.436±0.521） m/s（APRI 0.306±0.195）,（1.538±0.496） m/s（APRI 0.224±0.094）和（1.857±0.729） m/s（APRI 0.373±0.295）,两种技术测值均与肝纤维化分期存在相关,相关系数分别ARFI 0.416（P<0.01）和APRI指数0.254（P<0.05）。ARFI和APRI诊断NAFLD肝纤维化S≥2的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.714、0.653;S≥3的面积分别为0.765、0.577;S=4的面积分别为0.853、0.611。结论：ARFI技术作为实时超声弹性成像技术,较APRI指数能更准确的无创定量评价NAFLD肝纤维化程度,具有良好的临床应用前景。     

声脉冲辐射力弹性成像与生化S指数评定兔肝纤维化的实验研究

目的探讨声脉冲辐射力弹性成像(ARFI)技术与血清生化指标S指数在兔肝纤维化分期中的诊断价值。方法 32只家兔皮下注射5%硫代乙酰胺制备肝纤维化模型(实验组),8只家兔于颈背部皮下注射生理盐水(对照组)。于造模第4、8、12周末行ARFI和血清实验室检查,获取肝脏剪切波速度(SWV),计算S指数,取肝脏制作标本行病理肝纤维化分期,比较SWV与S指数在兔肝纤维化分期中的诊断价值。结果实验组中29只家兔造模成功,肝纤维化分期S1、S2、S3、S4期分别为10只、8只、7只、4只;另3只家兔肝脏严重炎症坏死而无纤维化。SWV与S指数均随着纤维化程度的加重而增大,各组间差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05);SWV较S指数与肝纤维化病理分期具有更显著的相关性(r=0.724、0.472,P﹤0.05);应用SWV和S指数诊断肝纤维化程度≥S1、≥S2、≥S3、S4对应的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.92、0.87、0.82、0.89和0.76、0.75、0.71、0.74。结论 ARFI较生化S指数能更准确地诊断兔肝纤维化程度。     

声辐射力脉冲成像与APRI指数评价慢性丙型肝炎肝纤维化的临床价值

目的 探讨声辐射力脉冲成像(acoustic radiation force impulse,ARFI)技术和天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶与血小板比值指数(AST/PLT ratio index,APRI)无创评价慢性丙型肝炎肝纤维化程度的临床应用价值.方法 对107例慢性丙型肝炎患者应用ARFI技术检测肝实时弹性,并计算APRI指数,所有患者均于检测后1周内行肝穿刺活检,以病理检查结果为金标准,比较ARFI测值和APRI指数对慢性丙型肝炎肝纤维化的诊断价值.结果 慢性丙型肝炎患者肝纤维化分期为S1～S4期的ARFI分别为(1.26±0.27) m/s、(1.45±0.51)m/s、(2.03±0.54) m/s和(2.29±0,82) m/s,APRI分别为0.30±0.46、0.29±0.21、0.59±0.56和0.63±0.35.ARFI和APRI测值均与肝纤维化分期存在相关,相关系数分别为0.61和0.49(P＜0.001).ARFI和APRI诊断慢性丙型肝炎肝纤维化S≥2的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.779、0.724;S≥3的曲线下面积分别为0.866、0.786;S=4的曲线下面积分别为0.790、0.779.结论 ARFI技术较APRI指数能更准确地定量评价慢性丙肝肝纤维化程度,具有良好的临床应用前景.     

实时剪切波弹性成像与肝纤维化血清学检测评价实验性兔肝纤维化效能的比较

目的 探讨实时剪切波弹性成像及肝纤维化血清学指标评估实验性兔肝纤维化程度的价值。方法 新西兰大白兔48只,随机分成实验组40只（皮下注射四氯化碳橄榄油溶液）;对照组8只（皮下注射生理盐水）。在实验的第4、8、12、16周末分别从实验组随机抽取8只和对照组2只,行肝实时剪切波弹性成像、纤维化血清学指标和病理检查,分析Emean 值及纤维化血清学指标与纤维化病理分期的相关性,并采用ROC曲线评估两者对肝纤维化程度的诊断效能。结果 32只造模成功的大白兔肝脏病理呈不同程度的纤维化。任两期之间Emean值差异具有统计学意义,且Emean 值与肝纤维化分期的相关性大于肝纤维化血清学指标（P＜0.05）。Emean 值诊断肝纤维化分期≥S1、≥S2、≥S3、=S4 的曲线下面积均大于0.90,大于IV型胶原、Ⅲ型前胶原氨基端肽和层粘蛋白,在诊断肝纤维化病理分期≥S2、≥S3、=S4的曲线下面积大于透明质酸,P均＜0.05。Emean值除了与透明质酸值在诊断肝纤维化病理分期≥S1的特异度比较差异无统计学意义外,Emean 值在诊断肝纤维化病理各分期的灵敏度、特异度均大于89%,大于肝纤维化血清学指标,P均＜0.05。结论 实验性兔实时剪切波弹性成像Emean 测值对肝纤维化程度的诊断效能高于肝纤维化血清学指标。     

FibroTouch联合FIB-4、APRI及GPRI评估肝纤维化

目的 评估肝脏瞬时弹性成像技术（FibroTouch）联合天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（aspartate transaminase,AST）/血小板（platelet,PLT）比值（APRI）、age AST PLT 丙氨酸氨基转移酶（alanine transaminase,ALT）相关的比值（FIB 4）及谷氨酰胺转肽酶（glutamyl transferase,GGT）/PLT比值（GPRI）诊断肝纤维化的临床价值。方法 选择2014年1月至2017年4月就诊于河北医科大学第三医院经肝组织病理学证实的慢性肝病患者337例,采用FibroTouch检测肝脏硬度值（liver stiffness measurement,LSM）,同步检测ALT、AST、GGT、总胆红素（total bilirubin,TBIL）及PLT,计算FIB 4、APRI及GPRI。应用受试者工作特征（receiver operating characteristic,ROC）曲线对比分析FibroTouch及3种血清学模型的诊断效能,Spearman秩相关检验分析其与影响因素的相关性,验后概率对比分析FibroTouch联合多参数模型的诊断准确度。结果 肝组织病理学结果：显著肝纤维化（≥S2）169例,进展期肝纤维化（≥S3）86例,肝硬化（S4）42例。LSM诊断纤维化分期S≥2、S≥3、S=4 的ROC曲线下面积依次为0.826、0.882、0.920,明显高于FIB 4（0.734、0.711、0.739）、APRI（0.662、0.669、0.719）和GPRI（0.621、0.674、0.720）,P值均<0.01。相关因素分析显示年龄、肝脏炎症程度、ALT、AST及TBIL水平可影响LSM、FIB 4、APRI及GPRI诊断肝纤维化。计算验后概率示,FibroTouch诊断纤维化分期S≥2、S≥3、S=4与肝组织病理学的符合率分别为72.44%、80.52%、84.21%;LSM联合FIB 4诊断肝纤维化的符合率优于LSM联合APRI或GPRI,S≥2、S≥3、S=4分别为85.88%、92.38%、95.83%;进一步联合其余模型的诊断准确率进一步提高,四者联合诊断肝纤维化分期S≥2、S≥3、S=4的符合率分别为95.71%、98.6%、99.08%。结论 FibroTouch联合FIB 4评估慢性肝病肝纤维化程度的准确度高,进一步联合APRI及GPRI可在一定程度上减少肝穿活检的需求,为肝纤维化的无创诊断、动态监测及疗效评估提供可靠依据。     

声触诊弹性成像不同取值方法诊断肝纤维化的对比分析

目的探讨声触诊弹性成像(STE)两种取值方法诊断慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)肝纤维化的应用价值。方法对122例CHB患者行STE检查,获得各病理分期肝弹性模量值的均值和中位数,计算均值、中位数两种取值方法与病理分期的相关系数;绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析两种取值方法对肝纤维化的诊断效能,比较曲线下面积的差异。结果均值、中位数两种取值方法的弹性模量值在各病理分期间比较差异均有统计学意义(F=36.894、28.667,均P<0.001);均值、中位数两种取值方法与病理分期均呈正相关(r=0.641、0.598,均P<0.001)。以均值为取值方法诊断肝纤维化≥S2期及S4期的曲线下面积稍高于以中位数为取值的方法,差异均无统计学意义;以均值为取值方法诊断肝纤维化≥S3期的曲线下面积高于以中位数为取值的方法,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 STE诊断CHB患者肝纤维化具有一定的应用价值,选择肝弹性模量值均值为检查参数较中位数的诊断价值更高。     

超声弹性成像在肝纤维化分期中的应用研究

目的 探讨超声弹性成像(RTE)在肝纤维化分期中的应用价值.方法 选择不同病理分期的肝纤维化患者224例,应用RTE评分标准将患者分级,对比其与病理检查分期的相关性,并界定肝纤维化与肝硬化的RTE评级的分界点.结果 肝脏RTE分级为F0、F1、F2级的患者,病理分期多为纤维化(S0、S1、S2、S3)(P<0.05);RTE分级为F4级的患者,病理分期多为肝硬化(S4)(P<0.05);RTE分级为F3时,病理分期分布差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).RTE评分方法与病理分期方法在评价肝纤维化程度时有较高的一致性(Kappa值=0.816).结论 RTE可作为较客观地评价肝纤维化分期的辅助检查方法;此外,乃级可认为是肝纤维化与肝硬化分界点.     

实时二维剪切波弹性成像诊断自身免疫性肝病患者肝纤维化程度

目的评估实时二维剪切波弹性成像(2D-SWE)诊断自身免疫性肝病(AILD)患者肝纤维化程度的效能。方法回顾性分析102例AILD的临床2D-SWE资料。采用Kendall’s tau-b检验分析肝硬度测值(LSM)与肝纤维化分期、炎症分级的相关性;绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线,以肝活体组织检查(LB)作为金标准,评估2D-SWE诊断各期肝纤维化的效能;以Logistic回归分析观察影响其诊断准确率的因素。结果LSM与纤维化分期呈正相关(r=0.58,P<0.01),与炎症分级无显著相关(r=0.29,P<0.01)。2D-SWE诊断≥F2期、≥F3期和F4期肝纤维化的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.93、0.86及0.86;截断值为8.10 kPa、10.20 kPa及13.50 kPa时,敏感度分别为89.16%、80.00%及88.46%,特异度分别为84.21%、76.60%及82.89%。对F4期肝纤维化,白蛋白是影响2D-SWE诊断准确率的独立影响因素(OR=1.10,P=0.01)。结论2D-SWE可评估AILD肝纤维化程度,对≥F2期诊断效能更优,且干扰因素较少。     

肝内胆汁淤积对联合弹性成像评估肝纤维化的影响

目的评估肝内胆汁淤积对联合弹性成像诊断肝纤维化分期的影响。方法收集入组患者的弹性成像、生化学和组织学数据。比较不同总胆红素(TB)组的剪切波速度(Vs)及肝纤维化指数(LF index)。使用ROC曲线下面积计算联合成像的准确度。结果以肝活检为金标准,TB异常组的Vs高于正常组(P<0.001),LF index在TB正常组及异常组中无区别(P>0.05)。不同TB分组中联合成像的准确度并无明显差异。结论肝内胆汁淤积对LF index无任何影响,使Vs轻微升高,但不会降低联合弹性成像评估肝纤维化分期的整体诊断效能。     

Prospective Comparison of the Diagnostic Performance of Magnetic Resonance Elastography with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography for Pre-operative Staging of Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) elastography with that of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography for pre-operative staging of hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We prospectively enrolled 77 patients who were scheduled to undergo hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Pre-operative MRE and ARFI elastography examinations were performed on the same day, and liver stiffness/velocity values were determined. Fibrosis stage and necro-inflammatory activity of resected specimens were determined histopathologically using the METAVIR scoring system. Correlations between MRE and ARFI elastography findings and histologic findings were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Correlation of MRE was excellent and correlation of ARFI elastography was good with fibrosis stage. MRE had better diagnostic performance than ARFI elastography in estimating substantial fibrosis (F2), severe fibrosis (F3) and cirrhosis (F4). The optimal cutoff value and the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) were determined using ROC curve analysis. The highest Youden index was used as a criterion for selecting the optimal cutoff value. ROC analysis revealed that MRE discriminated advanced stages of fibrosis (F?≥?2) well in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at a cutoff value of 3.0?kPa with an AUROC value of 0.93, and ARFI elastography did so at a cutoff value of 1.77?m/s with an AUROC value of 0.81 for predicting advanced stages of fibrosis (F?≥?2). In conclusion, MRE is a more accurate imaging modality than ARFI elastography in estimating advanced stages of fibrosis and cirrhosis.     

剪切波弹性成像评估大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝病肝纤维化程度

目的探讨剪切波弹性成像(SWE)技术评估大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝病(NAFLD)肝纤维化程度的应用价值。方法将88只SD大鼠随机分为对照组(40只)和实验组(48只),对照组给予普通饲喂,实验组通过饮食调配建立不同肝纤维化分期的NAFLD模型,分别于第1、2、3、8、12周末随机抽取对照组大鼠8只,与预定喂养结束的实验组大鼠一起行SWE检查获取肝脏杨氏模量平均值(Emean),并处死行病理检查;绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析Emean预测不同肝纤维化程度的诊断效能。结果肝纤维化F0期、F1期、F2期、F3期、F4期分别有52只、6只、6只、18只、6只,考虑建模成功,其对应的Emean分别为(5.46±0.37)kPa、(6.28±0.33)kPa、(6.42±0.41)kPa、(9.01±0.95)kPa及(15.88±2.49)kPa,不同肝纤维化分期Emean比较差异有统计学意义(F=25.5,P<0.05);除F1期与F2期比较差异无统计学意义外,其余任意两两比较差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。所有大鼠肝脏Emean与肝纤维化程度呈显著正相关(r=0.82,P<0.001)。SWE诊断肝纤维化≥F1、≥F2、≥F3、F4期的截断值分别为6.3 kPa、7.4 kPa、8.6 kPa、9.7 kPa,曲线下面积分别为0.87、0.89、0.93、0.98,敏感性和特异性分别为83.3%、93.3%、100%、100%和85.5%、83.1%、91.3%、92.7%。结论SWE技术可有效评估大鼠NAFLD肝纤维化程度。     

实时组织弹性成像联合超声造影技术在慢性乙型肝炎患者肝纤维化诊断中的应用

目的探讨实时组织弹性成像（RTE）联合超声造影技术评估乙型肝炎肝纤维化的临床应用价值,为评价慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化提供新的无创诊断方法。 方法选取2016年10月至2017年5月在哈尔滨医科大学附属第一医院就诊的慢性乙型肝炎患者61例,并行肝活检,根据Scheuer标准分为5期（S0~S4）,所有患者均行RTE及超声造影检查,计算肝纤维化指数（LFI）与肝肾达峰时间差（Lt-Kt）。采用方差分析比较肝纤维化各组的LFI值与Lt-Kt值,并与病理结果做相关分析。进一步两两比较采用LSD-t检验,以肝活检为"金标准"得到各组诊断受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线。 结果LFI值S1期与S2期间比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,Lt-Kt值S0期与S1期间比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,LFI值S0与S1、S2、S3、S4期多重比较（t=-2.32、-3.92、-6.35、-11.58）,LFI值S1与S0、S2、S3、S4期多重比较（t=2.32、-1.59、-4.15、-9.44）,LFI值S2与S0、S1、S3、S4期多重比较（t=3.92、1.59、-3.31、-9.86）,LFI值S3与S0、S1、S2、S4期多重比较（t=6.35、4.15、3.31、6.28）,LFI值S4与S0、S1、S2、S3期多重比较（t=11.58、9.44、9.86、6.28）。Lt-Kt值S0与S1、S2、S3、S4期多重比较（t=-1.81、-4.51、-5.98、-9.58）,Lt-Kt值S1与S0、S2、S3、S4期多重比较（t=1.81、-2.37、-3.94、-7.60）,Lt-Kt值S2与S0、S1、S3、S4期多重比较（t=4.51、2.37、-2.12、-6.69）,Lt-Kt值S3与S0、S1、S2、S4期多重比较（t=5.98、3.94、2.12、-4.37）,Lt-Kt值S4与S0、S1、S3、S4期多重比较（t=9.58、7.60、6.69、4.37）,差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。LFI对应ROC曲线下面积分别为0.953、0.924、0.916、0.983;Lt-Kt对应ROC曲线下面积分别为0.979、0.967、0.902、0.949。二者联合后对应ROC曲线下面积分别为0.988、0.974、0.918、0.966。 结论RTE及超声造影在乙型肝炎肝纤维化诊断中均有重要价值,超声造影在纤维化早期（S1~S2）较RTE更有优势,而RTE在纤维化中晚期（S3~S4）较超声造影更有优势,二者联合可在（S1~S3期）提高纤维化诊断的准确性。     

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.

     

Non-invasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis with ElastPQ: Comparison with Transient Elastography and Serologic Fibrosis Marker Tests,and Correlation with Liver Pathology Results

We investigated the feasibility of using ultrasound shear wave elastography point quantification (ElastPQ) for liver fibrosis staging and compared it with other non-invasive tools with respect to efficacy in liver stiffness measurement. A total of 106 patients who underwent liver stiffness measurements, using ElastPQ and biochemical investigations, before parenchymal liver biopsy or surgery were included. Among these, 51 also underwent transient elastography (TE). Correlations of ElastPQ, TE and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) with histopathological findings (as the reference standard) were determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient. The diagnostic performance of ElastPQ, TE and APRI was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. ElastPQ had good diagnostic accuracy in identifying each liver fibrosis stage, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.810 to 0.864. Stiffness values obtained using ElastPQ, TE and APRI were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.686, r = 0.732 and r = 0.454, respectively) with histologic fibrosis staging (p < 0.001). According to the AUC for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (≥F2) and cirrhosis (=F4), ElastPQ had better diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.929 and 0.834, respectively) than APRI (AUC = 0.656 and 0.618, respectively) (p < 0.05), and was similar to TE (AUC = 0.915 and 0.879, respectively). ElastPQ is a promising ultrasound-based imaging technique for evaluation of liver fibrosis, with a diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of TE.     

Could Ultrasound Elastography Reflect Liver Function?

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ultrasound elastography reflects liver function reserve relative to liver fibrosis histology. Sixty-five New Zealand rabbits were divided into an experimental group (n?=?45) and a control group (n?=?20). In the experimental group, liver fibrosis (F1–F4) was induced by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride. Point shear wave elastography and the indocyanine green (ICG) elimination test were performed for the two groups at 4-wk intervals for 56?wk. The liver stiffness value (LSV) and the ICG retention rate at 15?min (ICGR15) were obtained, and the correlation between them was investigated. The median LSVs of stages F0–F4 were 3.92?kPa (1.91–8.53?kPa), 5.02?kPa (2.39–8.91?kPa), 7.87?kPa (5.21–12.26?kPa), 12.83?kPa (5.92–16.79?kPa) and 16.64?kPa (9.76–29.50?kPa), respectively. The median ICGR15 values of stages F0–F4 were 8.7% (4.8%–15.6%), 10.8% (5.6%–20.3%), 19.2% (12.3%–26.7%), 31.0% (20.9%–41.0%) and 45.6% (22.1%–60.9%). There were significant differences in LSVs and ICGR15 values among the different stages of liver fibrosis (p?<0.01). A positive correlation was observed between LSV and ICGR15 (r?=?0.7497, p?<?0.0001). A strong correlation was observed between liver stiffness and liver function reserve, indicating ultrasound elastography may reflect liver function reserve in different degrees of liver fibrosis.     

Comparison of Acoustic Structure Quantification,Transient Elastography (FibroScan) and Histology in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and without Moderate to Severe Hepatic Steatosis

The purpose of this study was to compare acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) with transient elastography for staging liver fibrosis. One hundred eighty-two patients with chronic hepatitis B and without moderate to severe hepatic steatosis scheduled for liver biopsy underwent ASQ and transient elastography examinations. All ASQ parameters, including total mode, total average, red mode, red average, red standard deviation, blue mode, blue average, blue standard deviation and focal disturbance (FD) ratio and liver stiffness obtained via transient elastography were found to correlate with fibrosis stage (Spearman's r?=?0.783, 0.791, 0.750, 0.771, 0.544, 0.718, 0.691, 0.439, 0.815 and 0.814, respectively; all p values < 0.001). Among the ASQ parameters, the FD ratio had the highest correlation with the stage of fibrosis. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of FD ratio and liver stiffness were 0.911 and 0.906 for F ≥ F1, 0.918 and 0.882 for F ≥ F2, 0.911 and 0.914 for F ≥ F3 and 0.926 and 0.978 for F?=?F4, respectively. There was no significant difference in AUCs between FD ratio and liver stiffness in predicting different stages of fibrosis (p?=?0.062–0.912). ASQ is a promising technique for assessing liver fibrosis in the absence of moderate to severe hepatic steatosis.