The diagnostic significance of ultrasound elastometry in evaluation of fibrosis in chronic diffuse liver diseases

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Determination of the diagnostic value of ultrasound elastometry of liver (UEL) in the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic diffuse liver diseases (CDLD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 316 patients with various etiologies of the CDLD, with the underwent both liver biopsy, the UEL, and evaluation of fibrosis (F) according to the Metavir classification. RESULTS: The maximum diagnostic accuracy of the UEL was obtained in determining of the 4-th stage of fibrosis according to the Metavir. The accuracy of the method was 91% with a sensitivity of 100%. The lowest sensitivity of the UEL determined in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): F1 - 25%, F2 - 33%, F3 and F4 - 50%. The High body mass index (BMI = 30,1 +/- 3,8 kg/m2) is a factor which is limiting the use of elastometry for patients NAFLD. The low sensitivity for F1 and F2 - 14,3% and 10%, respectively, 100% for F4, with a BMI = 24,4 +/- 5,1 kg/m2 was obtained in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). In the alcoholic liver disease (ALD) obtained high sensitivity (100%) for F2 and F4. In the CDLD of viral etiology the sensitivity of UEL was 33-71,4% in the early stages of fibrosis (F1 and F2) with high specificity - 100% and 93.5% respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of the UEL allows the diagnosis of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases of different etiologies as an alternative to needle biopsy of the liver.