Correlation Between Point Shear Wave Elastography and Liver Function Tests as A Predictor of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Aim: of this study is to correlate between point shear wave elastography(pSWE) and liver function tests (LFTs) to predict liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Materials and methods: this study is a cross sectional study conducted in Ultrasound Clinic in Suleymaniya city. The duration of the study was through the period from 1st of November, 2018 to 30th of June, 2019 on 50 NAFLD patients. After confirming NAFLD diagnosis, the patients were referred to Ultrasound Clinic to complete Point Shear Wave Elastography (PSWE). Results: showed a mean PSWE of NAFLD patient was 4.12±0.87 Kpa; 18% of them had high PSWE (> 4.6). Elastography fibrosis score was distributed to F0 (82%), F1 (6%), F2 (8%) and F3 (4%). The Aspartate Aminotransferase Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) fibrosis scores were distributed to F0 (48%), F1-3 (48%) and F4 (4%), There was a highly significant association between elastography fibrosis score and APRI fibrosis score of NAFLD patients (p<0.001), There was no significant association between elastography fibrosis score and Aspartate Aminotransferase/Alanine Aminotransferase (AST/ALT) values of NAFLD patients (p=0.5). Conclusion: this study showed that the point shear wave elastography is a valuable noninvasive diagnostic technique for predicting significant liver fibrosis among patients with non-alcoholic liver fatty diseases and there is significant correlation between APRI score and pSWE score. The current gold standard in the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis is liver biopsy. Point shear wave elastography is among the noninvasive procedures to assess liver fibrosis. Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Point shears wave elastography, Liver fibrosis.