Comparison of portal vein hemodynamics with ultrasound-based elastography for the prediction of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease

Kanji Yamaguchi; Yuya Seko; Takamitsu Sakai; Satomi Kitano; Hiromi Okabe; Seita Kataoka; Michihisa Moriguchi; Atsushi Umemura; Yoshito Itoh

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-30279-7

Comparison of portal vein hemodynamics with ultrasound-based elastography for the prediction of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease

Sci Rep. 2023 Feb 28;13(1):3425. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-30279-7.

Authors

Kanji Yamaguchi¹, Yuya Seko², Takamitsu Sakai³, Satomi Kitano³, Hiromi Okabe³, Seita Kataoka², Michihisa Moriguchi², Atsushi Umemura⁴, Yoshito Itoh²

Affiliations

¹ Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyou-Ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan. ykanji@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
² Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyou-Ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
³ Department of Clinical Laboratory, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
⁴ Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Abstract

Chronic liver disease includes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, progresses from steatosis and hepatitis to fibrosis and cirrhosis, with hemodynamic changes in portal blood flow. This study aimed to compare portal vein hemodynamics with liver stiffness (LS) and steatosis and included 28 subjects with chronic liver disease, in whom LS and steatosis were evaluated in the same image employing two elastography techniques: transient elastography (TE) with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) using a FibroScan and two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) with attenuation imaging (ATI). Additionally, peak maximum velocity (V_max) of the right portal vein and spleen stiffness with 2D-SWE were evaluated. A strong positive correlation was present between LS values obtained with TE and 2D-SWE and between the attenuation coefficients of steatosis obtained with CAP and ATI. Additionally, a negative correlation was present between LS values and the V_max of the right portal vein (r = 0.415, p = 0.031). The optimal V_max cutoff value for discriminating liver fibrosis with an LS value of > 5 kPa was < 17 cm/s; the ability of V_max to predict fibrosis was comparable to that of the FIB4-index. Low V_max of the right portal vein was useful for identifying liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Elasticity Imaging Techniques*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis / complications
Liver Cirrhosis / diagnostic imaging
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease*
Portal Vein / diagnostic imaging