AASLD 2012

Factors associated with failure of liver stiffness measurement using Supersonic Shear Imaging Elastography

AUTHORS/INSTITUTIONS: A. Jurchis, R. Sirli, I. Sporea, A. Popescu, S. Bota, O. Gradinaru, M. Szilaski, D. Suseanu, C. Ivascu, A. Martie, , University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, ROMANIA|

ABSTRACT BODY: 
  Background and aim: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using Supersonic Shear Imaging Elastography (SSI) (Aixplorer ® device) is a novel rapid, non-invasive technique that evaluates liver fibrosis. In some cases, however, no elasticity measurements are obtained.

 The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with failure of LSM.

 Material and methods: Our study included 184 subjects with chronic liver disease of diverse etiologies or healthy volunteers. Failure was defined if 5 valid measurements (VM) could not be obtained. We analyzed the factors associated with failure.

 

Conclusion: Failure to obtain valid LSM by SSI was observed in 20.6% of the patients. Older age, higher BMI, higher weight were significantly associated with failure to obtain valid LSM. In over-weight and obese patients SSI is feasible in only approximately two thirds of the patients.

 

ARFI Elastography vs. Transient Elastography: which one is more influenced by high aminotransferases values

AUTHORS/INSTITUTIONS: S. Bota, I. Sporea, R. Sirli, A. Popescu, M. Danila, Gastroenterology and Hepatology,

Univerisity of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, ROMANIA|M. Peck-Radosavljevic, A. Ferlitsch, Gastroenterology

and Hepatology, Medical University, Vienna, AUSTRIA|H. Saito, H. Ebinuma, Internal Medicine, School of Medicine,

Keio University, Tokyo, JAPAN|M. Lupsor, R.I. Badea, IIIrd Medical Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj

Napoca, ROMANIA|M. Friedrich-Rust, C. Sarrazin, Internal Medicine 1, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main,

GERMANY|F. Piscaglia, A. Borghi, Div. Internal Medicine, Dept. Clinical Medicine, University and General Hospital S.

Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, ITALY|

ABSTRACT BODY:

Introduction: In the last years non-invasive methods for liver fibrosis evaluation became more and more popular, but it is not clear which method is better for fibrosis evaluation.

Aim: to compare the influence of elevated aminotransferases level on liver stiffness (LS) values assessed by means of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) elastography and by Transient Elastography (TE) respectively.

Patients and methods: Our retrospective study included 512 patients (p), mean age 51.8±14.4 years, from 6 centers (5 countries) from Europe and Asia with chronic hepatitis: 357p (69.7%) with chronic hepatitis C, 82p (16.1%) with chronic hepatitis B, 2p (1.4%) with biviral infection and 71p (13.8%) with chronic hepatopathies of nonviral etiology.

We performed LB (evaluated according to the Metavir score), ARFI and TE measurements. We performed 10 valid ARFI and TE measurements in each patient and median values were calculated, expressed in meters/second (m/s) and kilopascals (kPa) respectively.

 

Conclusion:

In our study, the influence of elevated aminotransferases level was higher in case of TE as compared with ARFI elastography. ARFI measurements seem not to be influenced by elevated aminotransferases < 5 x ULN.