Abstract
BackgroundThis study investigated the relationship between liver stiffness and carotid artery elasticity in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. We used an acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technique to measure stiffness, and a radio frequency (RF) vascular quantitative ultrasound technique to measure changes in common carotid artery elasticity and vascular function.MethodsTwo-hundred seventeen patients with chronic viral hepatitis caused by either hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) were enrolled. We divided the patients into two groups, one comprising 147 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (98 men and 49 women, average age 46.5 ± 12.2 years) and another comprising 70 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) (47 men and 23 women, average age 47.6 ± 12.1 years). Additionally, 64 healthy age- and sex-matched participants (43 men and 21 women, average age 47.8 ± 5.1 years) were selected as the control group. The ARFI technique was used to measure liver stiffness and the RF ultrasound technique was used to measure carotid artery elasticity parameters including intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), arterial wall dilation coefficient (DC), compliance coefficient (CC), sclerosis indices α and β, and augmentation index (Aix). Clinical indicators, liver stiffness, and carotid artery elasticity parameters were observed and compared between the different age groups to investigate the correlation between carotid artery elasticity parameters and liver stiffness.ResultsThe ARFI values for the CHB and CHC groups were significantly higher than those for the control group (1.84 ± 0.52 vs. 1.04 ± 0.11 m/s; 1.86 ± 0.37 vs. 1.04 ± 0.11 m/s, respectively; P < 0.001). When compared to the control group, both CHB and CHC groups showed an IMT of the same order, but had significantly higher elasticity parameters, such as α and β, as well as lower DC and CC values (P < 0.001). The PWV of the CHC group was significantly higher than that of the control group (7.98 ± 1.42 vs. 6.09 ± 0.90 m/s, P < 0.001). In the CHB group, all parameters including ARFI, IMT, PWV, DC, CC, α and β, were significantly different between the two age groups (P < 0.05). Within the CHC group, all parameters including IMT, PWV, DC, α and β, were significantly different between the two age groups (P < 0.05), except for ARFI, wherein the difference was not statistically significant. The correlation analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis indicated that for patients with CHB, age was an independent predictor of common carotid artery IMT (R2 = 0.468, F = 54.635, and P < 0.001). For patients with CHC, age and blood sugar were independent predictors of common carotid artery IMT (R2 = 0.465, F = 29.118, and P < 0.001).ConclusionAlthough based on ARFI and RF ultrasound, the carotid artery IMT in patients with CHB and CHC was not significantly higher than that in the control group, their functional elasticity parameters had already changed. This finding serves as a useful reference for the clinical diagnosis of vascular diseases in patients with viral hepatitis.Trial registrationClinicalTrials: ChiCTR1800015859 25/04/2018.
Highlights
This study investigated the relationship between liver stiffness and carotid artery elasticity in patients with chronic viral hepatitis
The chronic hepatitis C (CHC) group demonstrated a higher blood sugar level (5.3 ± 1.1 vs. 4.9 ± 0.5 mmol/L, P < 0.001), higher glycated haemoglobin level (6.8 ± 1.6 vs. 5.3 ± 0.5%, P < 0.001), and higher levels of other parameters such as AST, ALT, and platelets compared to the control group
Comparison of liver stiffness and elasticity parameters among groups Results measured by the acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technique showed that both the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) group (1.84 ± 0.52 m/s) and the CHC group (1.86 ± 0.37 m/s) had significantly higher liver elasticity parameters than the control group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (F = 90.806, P < 0.001) (Fig. 2a)
Summary
This study investigated the relationship between liver stiffness and carotid artery elasticity in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Preliminary experiments found that carotid artery elasticity parameters in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes differed from those of healthy subjects [4] Whether these parameters were correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis have not been not studied using the new vascular measurement technologies. We conducted relevant clinical investigations and experiments to understand the extent of the changes in carotid artery morphology and function in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. These findings would help to determine whether the liver fibrosis is related to macrovascular diseases
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.