Impact of Fibroscan® on management of chronic viral hepatitis in clinical practice
Journal Title: Annals of Hepatology - Year 2011, Vol 10, Issue 4
Abstract
Background. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using Fibroscan® is an increasingly popular non-invasive method for quantifying liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. We aimed to explore potential impact of Fibroscan® on clinical management. Material and methods. 133 patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV, n = 75) or C (HCV, n = 58) underwent Fibroscan® measurement. LSM results were compared with liver biopsy results, ultrasound, and APRI-scores, and the impact of LSM on clinical management was evaluated. Results. LSM results indicated fibrosis stage F0-F1 in 84 patients (63%), F2 in 28 (21%), F3 in 8 (6%), and F4 in 13 patients (10%). Nineteen patients had liver biopsies within one year of LSM. In ten patients, LSM and biopsy showed the same fibrosis stage, in 8 there was one stage difference, and in 1 three stages difference. Ultrasound only showed cirrhosis in three patients, who all exhibited advanced cirrhosis at LSM. There was a statistically significant, but weak correlation between LSM results and APRI scores (r = 0.31, pvalue < 0.001). LSM results changed clinical management in 39% of patients (55 cases): in 15 patients antiviral treatment was indicated, in 21 patients surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma was indicated, and 19 successfully treated hepatitis C patients could be discharged from clinical follow-up in absence of severe fibrosis or cirrhosis. Conclusion. LSM appears to be a valuable non-invasive tool to manage patients with chronic viral hepatitis in clinical practice.
Authors and Affiliations
Dietje van de Putte, Renske Blom, Hanneke van Soest, Marco Mundt, Claudia Verveer, Joop Arends, Robert Knegt, Eveline Mauser-Bunschoten, Karel van Erpecum
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP78077
- DOI -
- Views 159
- Downloads 0
Algorithm for Screening of Adrenal Function in Stable Patients with Cirrhosis
Introduction and aims. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is common in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to assess the presence of AI in stable patients with cirrhosis using the gold-standard insulin tolerance test (ITT) and to...
Biochemical non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis cannot replace biopsy in HIV-HCV coinfected patients
Background and rationale. The liver biopsy has been considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and quantification of fibrosis. However, this method presents limitations. In addition, the non-invasive evaluation of l...
Treatment of hyperferritinemia
Elevated serum ferritin, or hyperferritinemia, is a common finding on routine bloodwork and often prompts referral for further evaluation. In the following review, we outline the various causes of hyperferritinemia and p...
An Acknowledgeme
Risk factors and predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Taiwan
Background and rationale for the study. Ultrasound assessment of the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) shows substantial observer variability. The purpose of this retrospective study is to develop a m...