Relationship of Liver Stiffness With Congestion in Patients Presenting With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

ABSTRACT Objective The significance of liver stiffness (LS) in the setting of cardiovascular congestion during the course of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is under investigation. The aim of this study was to assess LS with the use of transient elastography (TE) and its associations with volume overload as determined by means of bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) in ADHF. Methods and Results TE (Fibroscan 502; Echosens) and BIVA (ABC-01, Medass) were performed in the first 48 hours of admission and on the day of discharge in 149 ADHF patients without known primary chronic liver disease or acute hepatitis. During hospitalization the median value of LS decreased from 12.2 kPa (interquartile range 6.3–23.6) to 8.7 (5.9–14.4) kPa ( P P Conclusions There was a moderate association between LS with clinical congestion and volume overload according to BIVA and no correlation with degree of histologic liver fibrosis. LS may be a marker of negative HF outcomes.