Abstract
Background and Aims: Fibroscan (Echosens,France) is a new non invasive tool for measuring liver stiffness and steatosis. It has mainly developed to evaluate chronic liver disease in adult, but usefulness and appropriate inspection method in children has not been established. We report our experience of Fibroscan to evaluate liver stiffness and steatosis in children. Methods: Pediatric patients diagnosed or suspected to have liver disease were evaluated for controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and elasticity value (E value) using Fibroscan from August 2013 to November 2014. Results: In total, 20 procedures were performed for 19 patients (14 male, average age 11.5 year). CAP was 100 to 348 dB/m, and E value was 3.2 to 21.3 kPa. E values were higher than 10 kPa in three patients, one after receiving liver transplantation, one post Fontan procedure and one Alstrom syndrome. Liver biopsy was performed in four of them (2 Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis:NASH), 1 congenital liver fibrosis, 1 Wilson's disease) at almost the same time and E value was correlated with histological fibrosis stage (F 1-2) in them. CAP and the degree of steatosis in the liver tissue were correlated in NASH patients. After treatment not only the blood data such as transaminase and HOMA-IR but also CAP and E value of the patient of NASH were improved (CAP 323 to 299 dB/m, E value 7.7 to 4.5 kPa). Conclusion: Fibroscan might be useful for evaluating and following up liver stiffness and steatosis of children with liver disease as well as adult.
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