Noninvasive assessment of alcoholic liver disease using unidimensional transient elastography (Fibroscan(®))

World J Gastroenterol. 2015 Nov 14;21(42):11914-23. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i42.11914.

Abstract

Unidimensional transient elastography (TE) is a noninvasive technique, which has been increasingly used in the assessment of diffuse liver diseases. This paper focuses on reviewing the existing data on the use of TE in the diagnosis of fibrosis and in monitoring disease progression in alcoholic liver disease, on the factors that may influence the result of fibrosis prediction, and last but not least, on its potential use in assessing the steatosis degree. Therefore, this field is far from being exhausted and deserves more attention. Further studies are required, on large groups of biopsied patients, in order to find answers to all the remaining questions in this field.

Keywords: Alcoholic liver disease; Controlled attenuation parameter; Fibrosis; Liver stiffness; Steatosis; Transient elastography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Comorbidity
  • Disease Progression
  • Elasticity
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques*
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / mortality
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / pathology*
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / therapy
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index