Transient Elastography Measurements Research Articles

The influence of carvedilol posology timing on clinically significant portal hypertension: insights from elastography measurements.

Carvedilol has emerged as the preferred β-blocker for treating portal hypertension. However, there is still a debate in dosing regimen, with a potential lower bioavailability in once-daily regimens. The aim of this study is to assess the acute effects of carvedilol posology in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), as a surrogate marker of bioavailability. In this experimental study, 34 patients with CSPH receiving carvedilol twice daily were asked to suppress the night dose of carvedilol, creating a standardized 24-hour dose interval. Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE) were performed, with the exact interval between the last carvedilol administration and TE measurements consistently maintained at 24 hours and compared with values prior and under treatment. Thirty-four patients were included, predominantly male (82.9%). SSM after suspending carvedilol for 24 hours [mean, 73.9kPa (SD, 17.0)] was significantly higher ( P < 0.001) than under treatment [mean, 56.3kPa (SD, 13.2)] and was not significantly different ( P = 0.908) from SSM prior to introduction of carvedilol [mean, 74.5kPa (SD, 12.4)]. Differences were also found in stratified analysis for carvedilol dosage, D'Amico classification stages, MELDNa scores, MELD3.0 scores, Child-Pugh class A and CSPH due to alcoholic cirrhosis. LSM after suspension was not significantly different from both under treatment and prior to treatment. The differences in SSM after skipping one dose of carvedilol show both the importance of strict adherence to the prescribed dosing regimen to achieve the expected therapeutic benefits and the impact of twice daily prescription in bioavailability throughout the day.

Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Budd–Chiari Syndrome and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS): A Long-Term Study Using Transient Elastography

Hepatic vein outflow obstruction causes congestion of the liver, leading to necrosis, fibrosis, and portal hypertension (PH). A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) reduces congestion and PH by providing artificial outflow. The aim of the study was to investigate fibrosis progression in patients with Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) and TIPS using transient elastography (TE). From 2010 to 2022, 25 patients received 80 TEs using FibroScan®, Echosens, Paris, France (3.2 ± 2.1 per patient). TIPS function was assessed via Doppler ultrasound or radiological intervention. At the time of TE examination, 21 patients had patent shunts. Four patients had occluded shunts but normal pressure gradients during the intervention. The first TE measurement performed 9.8 ± 6.8 years after the BCS diagnosis showed stiffness values of 24.6 ± 11.5 kPa. A second or last measurement performed 7.0 ± 2.9 years after the first measurement showed similar stiffness values of 24.1 ± 15.7 kPa (p = 0.943). Except for three patients, the liver stiffness was always &gt;12 kPa, indicating advanced fibrosis. Stiffness values obtained &lt;5 years (n = 8, 23.8 ± 9.2 kPa) or &gt;5 years after the BCS diagnosis (24.9 ± 12.7 kPa) did not differ (p = 0.907). In addition, stiffness was not related to the interval between BCS and TIPS implantation (p = 0.999). One patient received liver transplantation, and two patients died from non-hepatic causes. Most patients developed mild to moderate cirrhosis, possibly during the early phase of the disease. Timing of TIPS did not influence fibrosis progression. This and the release of portal hypertension may argue in favor of a generous TIPS implantation practice in patients with BCS.

Suboptimal reliability of FIB-4 and NAFLD-fibrosis scores for staging of liver fibrosis in general population.

The burden and incidence of liver cirrhosis are increasing worldwide. Early detection of liver fibrosis would help in early interventions and preventing the progression of fibrosis and cirrhosis. The accepted noninvasive markers for liver fibrosis staging, namely fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), have shown inconsistent performance for detecting the fibrosis stage. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of FIB-4 score and NFS for the detection of liver fibrosis in the general population. From a general population referred from a single, community-based family-physician clinic, we included study participants between the ages of 45 and 65 years, with no knowledge of liver disease and no record of alcohol consumption. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by the FIB-4 score and NFS using shear wave elastography (SWE) or transient elastography (TE) measurements as a reference. A total of 76 participants (aged 61.5 ± 0.37 years, 33% females) were included in the study cohort. We observed a nonsignificant correlation between liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and FIB-4 and NFS (r = 0.1, P = 0.37; r = 0.16, P = 0.15, respectively). Our results showed that only 5.2% with FIB-4 >3.25 and 9.7% with NFS >0.675 had LSM >12 kPa. The compatibility of fibrosis staging was 55% between FIB-4 score and LSM and only 18% between NFS and LSM. We found that FIB-4 and NFS are unreliable tools for liver fibrosis estimation in the general population. There is a need for more reliable noninvasive methods for the early detection of liver fibrosis.

Infections increase the risk of decompensation and death in patients with early alcohol-related liver disease

Background & AimsInfections are frequent in patients with cirrhosis and worsen prognosis. We evaluated the incidence of infections and their impact on decompensation and death in patients with early alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) during long-term follow-up. MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study of patients in secondary care with a history of excess alcohol intake, no prior decompensation, and with liver biopsies along with clinical investigations conducted at baseline. During follow-up, we reviewed the patients’ electronic healthcare records for cases of infections, hospitalizations, transient elastography measurements, decompensations, all-cause mortality, and alcohol intake. ResultsWe included 461 patients with a mean age of 56±10 years (76% males; fibrosis stage F0-1/F2/F3-4 = 259/107/93 [56%/23%/20%]). During a median follow-up of 4.5 years (IQR 2.9-6.3), 134 patients (29%) developed a total of 312 infections, most frequently pneumonia (106/312, 34%) and urinary tract infections (57/312, 18%). Excessive alcohol intake during follow-up, smoking ≥30 pack years, MELD score and elevated liver stiffness during follow-up were independent predictors of infections. Patients who developed at least one infection had a significantly increased risk of subsequent decompensation (hazard ratio 4.98, 95% CI 2.47-10.03) and death (hazard ratio 8.24, 95% CI 4.65-14.59). Infections increased the risk of decompensation and death independently of baseline fibrosis stage, age, gender, and MELD score. ConclusionsAlmost one-third of patients with early ALD develop an infection, which worsens their prognosis by increasing the risk of decompensation and death. The risk of infections increases with liver disease severity and ongoing harmful use of alcohol. Impact and implicationsThis study reveals that infections significantly worsen the prognosis of patients with early alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), increasing the likelihood of decompensation and death by up to eight times. These findings, pertinent to healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers, emphasize the importance of early prevention and management of infections in patients with ALD, even those in early stages who may be asymptomatic. It was observed that nearly one-third of patients with early-stage ALD developed infections over 4.5 years, with risk factors including alcohol overuse, smoking, and higher MELD scores. The research underscores the critical need to incorporate these insights into clinical practice and public health policies to improve patient outcomes and mitigate the impact of infections in patients with ALD.

Noninvasive tests to identify liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease are affected by race.

The objective of this study was to assess the performance of noninvasive tests (NITs) across different racial and ethnic groups in a large multiethnic cohort. Data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017 through 2020. Participants without valid transient elastography measurements or with alternative etiologies of liver steatosis disease were excluded from the study. Among the 6359 adults included in the study, fatty liver index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease liver fat scores performed well for the prediction of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, without significant changes across racial and ethnic groups. However, significant differences were observed across racial and ethnic groups for the prediction of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score underperformed in non-Hispanic Black patients for the detection of cirrhosis. For the detection of advanced fibrosis, their performance was also numerically worse in non-Hispanic Black patients but only reached statistical significance for APRI. Using a cutoff point of 12 kPa for advanced fibrosis, both APRI and the FIB-4 index performed significantly worse in non-Hispanic Black patients. In a large, diverse national cohort, the performance of NITs was overall poor compared with transient elastography, and NITs showed differences across racial and ethnic groups. Given the widespread use of NITs, it is imperative that the scores are equitable across racial and ethnic groups.

OR24-05 High Waist Circumference Is Strongly Predictive Of Hepatic Steatosis And Significant Fibrosis

Abstract Disclosure: N. Janakiram: None. S. Puri: None. A. Thirumalai: None. Vibration-controlled transient elastography (TE) can measure controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. A high skin-to-capsule distance can challenge the accuracy of this imaging technique. Therefore, high waist circumference (WC), a known risk factor for NAFLD, can hamper assessment in high-risk patients. Studies investigating the relationship between WC and TE measurements have yielded conflicting results. We used the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data to explore this relationship in a large cohort of the general population. We hypothesized that high WC would be associated with (1) higher failure rate for completion of TE, (2) worse CAP and LSM measurements and (3) be predictive of presence of steatosis and significant fibrosis. We summarized the primary reason for incomplete TE in normal and high WC participants of male (M; WC ≥ 102 cm = high) and female (F; WC ≥ 88 cm = high) gender. We compared mean CAP and LSM between normal and high WC participants using unpaired t-tests. We calculated area under receiver operator curve (AUROC) for WC predicting presence of steatosis (CAP ≥248 dB/m) and significant fibrosis (LSM ≥8 kPa) and compared this with fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and NAFLD fibrosis scores (NFS). We analyzed the 5757 patients (2880 F, 2877 M) with complete or partial TE status, based on WC. Proportion of patients with partial TE status was higher in those with high WC (8.9% F, 9% M) than normal WC patients (6.5% F, 6.4% M). We analyzed the 446 patients with partial TE status (231 F, 215 M) by cause. The proportion of patients who were unable to complete TE, either due to an IQR/medium &amp;gt; 30% or not having 10 valid measurements among the high WC population (66%) was significantly higher than those with normal WC (23%), in both women (X2 (1, n=231) = 29.63; p&amp;lt;.001) and men (X2 (1, n=215) = 49.43; p&amp;lt;.001).Among those with complete TE (n=2313; 1090 M, 1223 F), mean CAP was significantly higher (p&amp;lt;0.001) in high WC patients (308 dB/m M, 278 dB/m F) compared to normal WC patients (250 dB/m M, 225 dB/m F). Mean LSM was significantly higher (p&amp;lt;0.001) in high WC patients (6.8 kPa M, 5.7 kPa F) compared to normal WC patients (5.7 kPa M, 4.5 kPa F). The AUROC for WC predicting presence of steatosis was 0.77 in F and 0.80 in M (p&amp;lt;0.001 for both). The AUROC for WC predicting the presence of significant fibrosis (≥8 kPa) was 0.73 in F and 0.71 in M (p&amp;lt;0.001 for both). In AUROC analyses, WC performed better than FIB-4 and NFS in predicting presence of significant fibrosis and steatosis. Therefore, we conclude that high WC is more likely to result in an incomplete TE, but among those with a valid exam, it is highly predictive of presence of steatosis and significant fibrosis. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

National prevalence estimates for steatotic liver disease and subclassifications using consensus nomenclature.

The multisociety consensus nomenclature has renamed NAFLD to steatotic liver disease (SLD) with various subclassifications. There is a paucity of data regarding how the new nomenclature modifies our understanding of disease prevalence and patient phenotypes. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from January 2017 to March 2020, we included all participants aged 18 years or above with complete vibration-controlled transient elastography measures. SLD and its subclassifications [metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD), MASLD + increased alcohol intake (MetALD), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), etiology-specific/cryptogenic] were defined according to consensus nomenclature. National SLD prevalence and subclassifications were estimated, and among key subgroups [age, sex, race/ethnicity, advanced liver fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement [LSM] ≥11.7 kPa)]. Among 7367 participants, 2549 had SLD (mean age 51 y, 57.7% male, 63.2% non-Hispanic White). The estimated prevalence of SLD was 34.2% (95% CI 31.9%-36.5%): MASLD 31.3% (29.2%-33.4%), MetALD 2% (1.6%-2.9%), ALD 0.7% (0.5-0.9%), etiology-specific/cryptogenic 0.03% (0.01%-0.08%). In exploratory analyses, participants classified as non-SLD with (vs. without) advanced fibrosis had a higher mean number of metabolic risk factors [2.7 (2.3-3.1) vs. 2.0 (1.9-2.0)] and a higher proportion with average alcohol use ≥20 g/d (women)/≥30 g/d (men) [20.9% (6.2%-51.3%) vs. 7.2% (6.1%-8.4%)]. In another exploratory analysis, increasing quantities of alcohol use remaining below the threshold for MASLD + increased alcohol intake were associated with advanced liver fibrosis in men, but not women. There was 99% overlap in cases of NAFLD and MASLD. Our findings highlight the utility of the new consensus nomenclature to address deficiencies present with the old nomenclature, and identify areas that require research to further refine classifications of SLD.

Correlation of Transient Elastography with Liver Iron Concentration and Serum Ferritin Levels in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Major from Oman.

In a longitudinal study, we aimed to assess the correlation between ultrasound transient elastography (TE), serum ferritin (SF), liver iron content (LIC) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* along with the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score as a screening tool to detect significant liver fibrosis among chronically transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT) patients. The study was conducted at a tertiary health center treating TDT patients. Transient elastography was performed within 3 months of Liver MRI T2* examinations at the radiology department over a median of one-year duration. T-test for independent data or Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze group differences. Spearman correlation with linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between TE liver stiffness measurements, Liver MRI T2* values, and SF levels. In this study on 91 patients, the median age (IQR) of the subjects was 33 (9) years, and the median (IQR) body mass index was 23.8 (6.1) kg/m2. Median (IQR) TE by fibroscan, MRI T2*(3T), Liver iron concentration (LIC) by MRI Liver T2*, and SF levels were 6.38 (2.6) kPa, 32.4 (18) milliseconds, 7(9) g/dry wt., and 1881 (2969) ng/mL, respectively. TE measurements correlated with LIC g/dry wt. (rS =0.39, p=0.0001) and with SF level (rS =0.43, P=0.001) but not with MRI T2* values (rS =-0.24; P=0.98). In TDT patients, liver stiffness measured as TE decreased significantly with improved iron overload measured as LIC by MRI and SF levels. However, there was no correlation of TE with the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score.

Effect of bariatric surgery on NAFLD/NASH: a single-centre observational prospective cohort study

IntroductionThe prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges from 25% in the general population to 90% in patients with obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery. NAFLD can progress towards non-alcoholic...

WED-310 - Symptom burden in people living with primary biliary cholangitis does not associate with transient elastography measures

WED-310 - Symptom burden in people living with primary biliary cholangitis does not associate with transient elastography measures

WED-286 - Transient elastography measurements of spleen stiffness are associated with treatment response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis

WED-286 - Transient elastography measurements of spleen stiffness are associated with treatment response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis

Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line therapy for OSA. However, the effect of CPAP on NAFLD in patients with concomitant OSA is still unclear. This study aims to identify the use of CPAP on NAFLD in patients with OSA. Method: A systematic literature search was performed using particular keywords and medical subheadings in three journal databases: Cochrane, PubMed, and EBSCOhost. The results were screened and assessed using inclusion and exclusion criteria by three independent authors. The Randomized controlled trial (RCT) quality was evaluated with Jadad scale and the cohort studies quality was assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale.Results: Two RCTs and three cohort studies were eligible to fulfil the inclusion criteria, consisting of 620 total patients. Two RCTs showed no statistically significant improvement after CPAP treatment in NAFLD based on intrahepatic triglyceride (measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy), liver stiffness measurement, serum cytokeratin-18 fragment, and liver function blood test parameters. Meanwhile, 2 cohort studies in adults and 1 cohort study in children showed significant improvement in ALT, AST, and APRI. However, one cohort study showed no significant improvement in serum fibrosis markers and transient elastography measurement after CPAP treatment.Conclusion: CPAP might be beneficial in some patients with OSA to improve NAFLD, but further research that includes many subjects and longer duration of CPAP therapy is needed to confirm this result.

Agreement and reliability of hepatic transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Across-sectional test-retest study.

Transient elastography (TE) has largely replaced liver biopsy to evaluate fibrosis stage and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C. Previous studies have reported excellent reliability of TE but agreement metrics have not been reported. This study aimed to assess interrater agreement and reliability of repeated TE measurements. Two operators performed TE independently, directly after each other. The primary outcome was disagreement, defined as a difference in TE results between operators of ≥33%, as well as the smallest detectable change, SDC95 (i.e., the difference between measurements needed to state with 95% certainty that there is a difference in underlying stiffness). Secondary outcomes included reliability, measured as intraclass correlation (ICC), and patient and examination characteristics associated with the agreement. In total, 65 patients were included, with a mean liver stiffness of 9.7 kPa. Of these, 21 (32%) had a disagreement in TE results of ≥33% between the two operators. The SDC95 on the log scale was 1.97, indicating that an almost twofold increase or decrease in liver stiffness would be required to confidently represent a change in the underlying fibrosis. Reliability, estimated using the ICC, was acceptable at 0.86. In a post hoc analysis, fasting less than 5 h before TE was associated with a higher degree of disagreement (48% vs. 19%, p = 0.03). In our clinical setting, interrater agreement in directly repeated TE measurements was surprisingly low. It is essential to further investigate the reliability and agreement of TE to determine its validity and usefulness.

Correlation of hepatic transient elastography measurements and abdominal adiposity in children: A cross-sectional study

Transient elastography is a non-invasive assessment of steatosis (measured as the controlled attenuation parameter, [CAP]) and fibrosis (measured as liver stiffness measurement, [LSM]) in patients with pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Abdominal adiposity is considered the most important factor for metabolic dysregulation including NAFLD. However, there is lack of a correlation between transient elastography measurements and abdominal adiposity. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the correlation between transient elastography measurements and abdominal adiposity in children. This cross-sectional study included 137 children who visited the Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Hepatic steatosis (CAP) and fibrosis (LSM), were assessed by transient elastography. Abdominal adiposity including subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and preperitoneal adipose tissue (PPT) was assessed using abdominal sonography. The correlation between transient elastography measurements and abdominal adiposity was assessed using multiple linear regression. In total, 137 children were included in this study. SAT and VAT were significantly associated with CAP, whereas SAT was significantly associated with LSM. An increment of 1mm in SAT increased CAP and LSM by 5.56dB/m and 0.06kPa, respectively. Certain abdominal adiposities, especially SAT, are significantly associated with CAP and LSM, as determined by transient elastography. Simple abdominal adiposity measured using sonography may be useful for the early detection of pediatric NAFLD.

A41 FONTAN ASSOCIATED LIVER DISEASE: THE ROLE OF TRANSIENT ELASTOGRAPHY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract Background Non-invasive assessment of Fontan Associated Liver Disease (FALD) is of interest, but studies have yielded inconsistent results about the correlation of severity of disease with laboratory values and imaging. Transient elastography (TE) is a non-invasive imaging modality used commonly for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and in Fontan patients it is hypothesized to reflect not only liver fibrosis but also venous congestion. Purpose To better define the potential role of TE for non-invasive assessment of the severity of FALD. Method This was a retrospective study conducted on patients’ medical records at CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital. Patients less than 18 years of age with FALD who had at undergone at least one LSM by TE between 1998-2021 were included. The relationship between LSM and liver function tests, hepatic ultrasound findings (including a cirrhosis score), cardiac catheterization results and histological fibrosis scores were analyzed. The impact of interventions during cardiac catherization on LSM were also studied. Result(s) A total of 54 patients (36 boys and 18 girls) with FALD were studied. Median age at Fontan surgery was 4.6 years (IQR 4.0 ─ 5.4 years). Higher LSM values significantly correlated with longer time from Fontan, higher total and direct bilirubin and GGT levels, higher INR, longer APTT, lower Factor V, and lower absolute lymphocyte count. Greater LSM was also significantly associated with the presence of heterogenous parenchymal echogenicity, irregular liver contours and greater ultrasonographic cirrhosis scores. Higher TE values were significantly correlated with higher wedged hepatic venous pressure and Fontan pressure. After catherization interventions that addressed stenoses, there was a statistically significant reduction in mean LSM (24.9±3.63 kPa vs 15.8±4.6 kPa, p=0.005). After closure of significant pulmonary collaterals, mean LSM tended to increase, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (19.1±1.9 kPa vs 24.6±3.5 kPa, p=0.2). At liver biopsy, significant direct correlation was found between LSM and the grade of sinusoidal fibrosis and LSM. TE with values &amp;gt;20 kPa were found to have higher grades of sinusoidal fibrosis, while values &amp;lt;20kPa had higher grades of sinusoidal dilatation. Conclusion(s) This study showed that TE allows to identify patients with higher cholestatic parameters, more severe liver fibrosis at biopsy and sonographic signs suggestive of cirrhosis. Moreover, it confirmed that liver congestion significantly contributes to LSM values. Interestingly, catheter interventions addressing pulmonary stenoses led to the improvement of TE measurements, giving hope for the reduction of hepatic venous congestion in these patients, which might have an effect on their FALD. Finally, the LSM threshold of 20 kPa could be useful clinically as a value above which fibrosis is likely to be significant, while if below could indicate a greater contribution from hepatic congestion. Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below None Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Serum MFAP4, a novel potential biomarker for liver cirrhosis screening, correlates with transient elastography in NAFLD patients.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in different countries. Liver fibrosis is considered as the most appropriate predictor of NAFLD-associated outcome. Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is a glycoprotein located in the extracellular matrix. Circulatory MFAP4 has been suggested as a noninvasive biomarker for the assessment of hepatitis C virus and alcoholic liver disease associated liver fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between serum MFAP4 and liver fibrosis severity in NAFLD patients. A case-control study was conducted in which NAFLD patients (n=25) and healthy participants (n=12) were recruited. Liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was assessed by transient elastography (TE) and biochemical parameters were collected. Serum MFAP4 was measured by sandwich ELISA based on two monoclonal anti-MFAP4 antibodies and calibrated with a standard of recombinant MFAP4. Serum MFAP4 levels increased with fibrosis severity and were highly upregulated in patients with cirrhosis (F4 fibrosis stage). In addition, serum MFAP4 levels positively correlated with TE measurement and showed significant association with the severely advanced fibrotic stage in NAFLD patients, in multiple linear regression analysis following adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index. This study suggests the use of MFAP4 as a potential diagnostic noninvasive biomarker for cirrhosis screening in NAFLD patients.

Benefits of rilpivirine for liver stiffness in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients

BackgroundRilpivirine (RPV) is an antiretroviral drug characterized by good tolerability and a favorable liver safety profile. Recent research has shown that RPV ameliorates liver fibrosis in animal models of various chronic liver diseases. Our study aimed to analyze the effect of RPV on liver fibrosis by assessing changes in liver stiffness using transient elastography. MethodsRetrospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients who were exposed and not exposed to RPV. The change in liver stiffness during the period between two transient elastography measurements was analyzed and compared for patients exposed and not exposed to RPV. ResultsWe selected 118 RPV-exposed and 118 non-RPV-exposed HIV-infected patients. Median time between transient elastography (TE) measurements was 50 (29–68) months. A repeated-measures general linear model based on the main clinical characteristics revealed a significant decrease in the TE value of −0.8kPa in non-RPV-exposed patients (p=0.254) and −1.6kPa in the RPV-exposed group (p<0.001). The subgroup analysis showed a significant reduction in the TE value only patients cured of hepatitis C (RPV-exposed, −2.8kPa [p<0.001]; non-RPV-exposed, −1.1kPa [p=0.22]). ConclusionRPV-based antiretroviral regimens significantly reduced liver stiffness, as measured by TE, in patients cured of chronic hepatitis C.

Shear-wave elastography for evaluation of hepatic stiffness in chronic viral hepatitis B and C.

To analyse the consistency between 2D shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) stiffness and fibrosis in liver biopsy in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The secondary aim of the study was to analyse the consistency between liver stiffness in 2D-SWE and transient elastography (TE) measurements in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. The study compared the results of hepatic stiffness assessment with 2D-SWE to available past liver biopsy reports in 153 patients with chronic HBV (n = 51) and HCV (n = 102) infection. In 43 patients with both hepatitides HBV (n = 8) and HCV (n = 35) we performed FibroScan on the same day as 2D-SWE. The appropriate statistical tests were applied for the analysis. Stiffness values analysed in the whole studied population showed a significant positive correlation with a stage of liver fibrosis in biopsy (r = 0.555, p < 0.001). If 2D-SWE was carried out within 24 months since liver biopsy the consistency of the results was 96%, and if the period between procedures exceeded 24 months the consistency was 81%. In 43 patients with both 2D-SWE and TE the coherence (r = 0.872, p < 0.001) and consistency (95%) between these two methods were high. Liver stiffness measured with 2D-SWE showed good consistency with stage of liver fibrosis in liver biopsies, particularly in HCV infected patients, and if the period between procedures did not exceed 24 months.

1236. Baseline liver stiffness and alanine transaminase predicts reduction in liver stiffness in people with chronic hepatitis B on tenofovir alafenamide

Abstract Background Globally, 296 million people are infected with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and at risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Suppressive therapy with a nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) such as tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) reduces risk of cirrhosis and cancer. Transient elastography measures liver stiffness and is used to monitor liver fibrosis in CHB. This study evaluates liver stiffness change among people taking NUC and determines correlates with improvement in liver stiffness. Methods Participants enrolled at the University of Maryland, Baltimore were treated with TAF 25mg daily for 2 years. Liver stiffness (FibroScan©) was measured at baseline and year 2. Mild (F0/F1) and advanced (≥ F2) fibrosis, was defined as ≤ 7.4kPa and ≥ 7.5kPa, respectively. Correlates of liver stiffness change from baseline to year 2 was evaluated with multiple linear regression. P-value of &amp;lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Since 2017, 60 have completed the study. Twenty-nine were switched from another NUC to TAF and 31 were off NUC treatment at baseline (“No NUC”: 17 treatment naïve, 14 prior NUC). Baseline alanine transaminase (ALT) was higher in the "No NUC" group (53.5 IU/ml ± 42.7 versus 30.2 IU/ml ± 15.5, p = &amp;lt; 0.007). Most (67.2%) participants had mild fibrosis at baseline. Nineteen had advanced fibrosis. Among those with advanced fibrosis, fibrosis stage improved by at least 1 stage in 14 with no change in 5. Liver stiffness improved in the No NUC group (mean change in stiffness -1.2161 kPa, p = 0.02), but not in the switch group. Subgroup analysis of those with advanced fibrosis also showed reduction in liver stiffness in the No NUC group only. Increased baseline ALT and baseline liver stiffness were predictive of reduction in liver stiffness (rho= - 0.3, p= 0.005 and rho= - 0.7, p &amp;lt; 0.0001, respectively). Baseline liver stiffness predicts change in liver stiffness with NUC therapy Increased liver stiffness, and therefore fibrosis, at baseline was associated with greater reductions in liver stiffness, and therefore liver stiffness, after 2 years of NUC therapy (rho = -0.7, p&amp;lt; 0.0001). Conclusion Liver stiffness improved with 2 years of NUC treatment in people with CHB, including those with advanced liver fibrosis. Either baseline ALT or liver stiffness can predict reduction in liver stiffness. This may reflect an overestimation of fibrosis stage in the presence of liver inflammation at NUC initiation. Repeating FibroScan after initiation of NUC treatment would therefore be useful, especially in people with elevated ALT, for guiding CHB care. Disclosures Lydia Tang, MBChB, Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support Shyam Kottilil, MD, PhD, Arbutus Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Advisor/Consultant|Silverback Therapeutics: Advisor/Consultant|The Liver Company: Advisor/Consultant|Yufan Biotechnologies: Advisor/Consultant.

Benefits of rilpivirine for liver stiffness in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients

BackgroundRilpivirine (RPV) is an antiretroviral drug characterized by good tolerability and a favorable liver safety profile. Recent research has shown that RPV ameliorates liver fibrosis in animal models of various chronic liver diseases. Our study aimed to analyze the effect of RPV on liver fibrosis by assessing changes in liver stiffness using transient elastography. MethodsRetrospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients who were exposed and not exposed to RPV. The change in liver stiffness during the period between two transient elastography measurements was analyzed and compared for patients exposed and not exposed to RPV. ResultsWe selected 118 RPV-exposed and 118 non-RPV-exposed HIV-infected patients. Median time between transient elastography (TE) measurements was 50 (29–68) months. A repeated-measures general linear model based on the main clinical characteristics revealed a significant decrease in the TE value of −0.8kPa in non-RPV-exposed patients (p=0.254) and −1.6kPa in the RPV-exposed group (p<0.001). The subgroup analysis showed a significant reduction in the TE value only patients cured of hepatitis C (RPV-exposed, −2.8kPa [p<0.001]; non-RPV-exposed, −1.1kPa [p=0.22]). ConclusionRPV-based antiretroviral regimens significantly reduced liver stiffness, as measured by TE, in patients cured of chronic hepatitis C.