Assessment of liver fibrosis using transient elastography in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Background/Aims The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) for the diagnosis of extensive fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Methods One hundred and seventy-four patients with ALD were enrolled in four liver units and underwent concomitant liver biopsy and LSM. Fibrosis was assessed using the Brunt et al. and the Chevallier et al. scoring systems. Steatosis and histological alcoholic hepatitis (HAH) were quoted in classes. Results Twenty-seven patients had inadequate biopsy or LSM. Distribution in 147 patients according to the Brunt score (median LSM) was: F 1: n =13 (5.7kPa); F 2: n =24 (8.3kPa); F 3: n =31 (17.5kPa) and F 4: n =79 (40.9kPa) ( P r =0.70, P P P Conclusions LSM accurately assesses extensive fibrosis and cirrhosis in alcoholic patients.