Correlation between Transient Elastography (Fibroscan^®) and Ultrasonographic and Computed Tomographic Grading in Pediatric Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to examine the advantages and usefulness of transient elastography (Fibroscan ® ) in diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in children and adolescents compared to those of abdominal computed tomography and liver ultrasonography. Methods Forty-six children and adolescent participants aged between 6 and 16 years who underwent transient elastography (Fibroscan ® ) as well as liver ultrasonography or abdominal computed tomography were included. Thirty-nine participants underwent liver ultrasonography and 11 underwent computed tomography. The physical measurements, blood test results, presence of metabolic syndrome, and the degree of liver steatosis and liver fibrosis were analyzed, and their correlations with transient elastography (Fibroscan ® ), abdominal computed tomography, and liver ultrasonography, as well as the correlations between examinations, were analyzed. Results Thirty-six participants (78.3%) were boys, and the mean age was 12.29±2.57 years, with a mean body mass index of 27.88±4.28. In the 46 participants, the mean values for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were 89.87±118.69 IU/L, 138.54±141.79 IU/L, and 0.77±0.61 mg/dL, respectively. Although transient elastography (Fibroscan ® ) and abdominal computed tomography grading had a statistically significant positive correlation with aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase values, the correlations between the results of grading performed by transient elastography (Fibroscan ® ), abdominal computed tomography, and liver ultrasonography were not statistically. Conclusion We confirmed that each examination was correlated with the results of some blood tests, suggesting the usefulness and possibility of diagnosis and treatment of steatohepatitis mediated by transient elastography (Fibroscan ® ) in the department of pediatrics.

Pediatric percentiles for transient elastography measurements - effects of age, sex, weight status and pubertal stage

“…evaluated LSM in children with obesity. Values were remarkably higher ( 16 ) than in our reference population, which further supports our finding of a considerable impact of weight status on LSM values.…”

A novel prediction tool based on shear wave elastography, gallbladder ultrasound, and serum biomarkers for the early diagnosis of biliary atresia in infants younger than 60 days old

“…Our data showed that liver 2D SWE was significantly positively correlated with the level of serum ALT (r=0.368; P=0.001; Figure S3). Levitte et al and Lee et al also showed that serum ALT significantly positively correlated with the measurement of liver elastography in pediatric liver diseases (30,31). Thus, this new predictor of ALT in our nomogram may adapt the influence of itself and yield a more accurate diagnostic prediction of young BA, but does require further validation.…”

Serum Cardiotrophin-1 Concentration Is Negatively Associated with Controlled Attenuation Parameters in Subjects with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…The examination was conducted using the standard M probe or XL probe, and the final CAP value was the median of the 10 individual measurements and was expressed in dB/m. Hepatic steatosis grade is decided by cutoff values of CAP, where CAP < 238 dB/m denotes no steatosis (S0), 238 ≤ CAP ≤ 259 dB/m denotes mild (S1), 260 ≤ CAP ≤ 290 dB/m denotes moderate (S2), and CAP > 290 dB/m denotes severe steatosis (S3), according to previous studies [ 28 , 29 ]. NAFLD was defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis on Fibroscan ® (CAP ≥ 238 dB/m) after the exclusion of secondary causes of hepatic steatosis (e.g., viral hepatitis, certain medications, and other medical conditions) and an alcohol consumption of ≥20 g/ day for men and ≥10 g/ day for women.…”