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Karagiannakis DS, Markakis G, Lekakis V. Evaluation of spleen stiffness by 2D shear wave elastography for ruling out high risk varices in patients with chronic advanced liver disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Radiol 2024; 175:111475. [PMID: 38643527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To systematically review the accuracy of spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) by 2D- Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) in predicting high risk for bleeding varices (HRV) in cirrhotic patients. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases were searched up to 31/05/2023 for all human studies using 2D-SWE to estimate SSM and endoscopy to detect HRV. Meta-analysis was performed using a generalized linear mixed model. Publication bias was evaluated using the funnel plot asymmetry test. The Area Under the Summarized Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUSROC) was estimated using the "mada" package. RESULTS A total of 13 studies and 1970 patients were included. Of them, 27.8 % had HRV. The pooled sensitivity and polled specificity of SSM in detecting HRV were 90 % (95 %CI:87-92 %) and 68 % (95 %CI:58-77 %), respectively, with an AUSROC at 0.86 (95 %CI:0.82-0.90). The median cutoff value of SSM in detecting HRV was 34.2 kPa. In studies including exclusively HBV cirrhotic patients, SSM's polled sensitivity and specificity in predicting HRV was 88 % (95 %CI:82-92 %) and 73 % (95 %CI:68-78 %), respectively. The AUSROC was 0.84 (95 %CI:0.81-0.87). The number of repeated measurements per patient (<5 or ≥ 5) did not affect the method's capability. Using Aixplorer to evaluate SSM had a higher sensitivity in ruling out HRV than other 2D-SWE devices. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis supports that SSM by 2D-SWE has a good diagnostic performance for ruling out HRV in cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios S Karagiannakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Laiko" General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
| | - George Markakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Laiko" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Lekakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Laiko" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Williams EE, Mladenovic A, Ranginani D, Weber R, Samala N, Gawrieh S, Vilar-Gomez E, Chalasani N, Vuppalanchi R. Role of Spleen Stiffness Measurement in the Evaluation of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease. Dig Dis Sci 2024; 69:1444-1453. [PMID: 38332211 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08272-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) correlates with the severity of portal hypertension. AIMS We investigated the utility of SSM in individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) for detecting cirrhosis, esophageal varices (EV), and high-risk EV. METHODS 154 study participants with MASLD underwent simultaneous liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and SSM. 96 (62%) participants had an upper endoscopy (73 participants, i.e., 47% undergoing within a year). The diagnostic performance of SSM, as well as the BAVENO VII proposed SSM cutoffs (≥ 21 kPa, > 40 kPa, and > 50 kPa), was examined. RESULTS The failure rate for SSM was 19% compared to 5% for LSM. An invalid SSM was statistically significantly associated with a higher body mass index, a larger waist circumference, and a lower fibrosis stage. The area under the receiver operating characteristics for SSM to diagnose cirrhosis, EV, and high-risk EV was 0.78 (95% CI 0.70-0.85), 0.74 (95% CI 0.61-0.84), and 0.82 (95% CI 0.75-0.98), respectively. SSM ≥ 21 kPa cutoff had a sensitivity > 96% for all three outcomes, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 88% for cirrhosis. In contrast, SSM > 40 kPa and SSM > 50 kPa cutoffs had better diagnostic abilities for identifying EV, particularly high-risk EV (sensitivity of 100% and 93% with NPV of 100% and 96%, respectively). CONCLUSION SSM has a higher failure rate in individuals who are non-cirrhotic or have a higher BMI, or larger waist circumference. Although useful for diagnosing NASH cirrhosis, SSM is most reliable in excluding EV and high-risk EV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Williams
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Andrea Mladenovic
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Dheeksha Ranginani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Regina Weber
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Niharika Samala
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Samer Gawrieh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Eduardo Vilar-Gomez
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Naga Chalasani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Raj Vuppalanchi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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Karagiannakis DS, Karakousis ND, Androutsakos T. B-Blockers in Liver Cirrhosis: A Wonder Drug for Every Stage of Portal Hypertension? A Narrative Review. Biomedicines 2023; 12:57. [PMID: 38255164 PMCID: PMC10813395 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In cirrhotic patients, non-selective b-blockers (NSBBs) constitute the reference treatment of choice as monotherapy or combined with band ligation for the prevention of first variceal bleeding and rebleeding, respectively. Furthermore, the last Baveno VII guidelines recommended carvedilol, a b-blocker with additional anti-a1 receptor activity, in all compensated cirrhotics with clinically significant portal hypertension, to prevent liver decompensation. Interestingly enough, NSBBs have been reported to have a potentially positive impact on the short-term mortality of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. However, concerns remain about the use of b-blockers in the presence of severe complications, such as refractory ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, or established cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. In addition, it has not been verified yet whether carvedilol supersedes all the other NSBBs in every stage of liver disease, even when severe complications have developed. Therefore, this review aims to illustrate recent data regarding the potential role of b-blockers across all stages of liver disease, beyond the primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, and address the authors' proposals on the use of NSBBs concerning the severity of liver disease and the patient's performance status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios S. Karagiannakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Laiko General Medicine, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Theodoros Androutsakos
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece;
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Karagiannakis DS, Stefanaki K. Spleen stiffness: a predictive factor of dismal prognosis in liver cirrhosis. Clin J Gastroenterol 2023; 16:121-129. [PMID: 36592292 PMCID: PMC10063465 DOI: 10.1007/s12328-022-01752-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Portal hypertension (PH) is a major complication of liver cirrhosis, as it predisposes to the development of serious clinical manifestations such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and variceal bleeding, aggravating the prognosis of patients. Hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) is considered the reference method for the estimation of the presence and severity of PH, but this procedure is available only in specialized centers. Alternatively, many non-invasive methods have been proposed in order to substitute HVPG. Among them, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) has been widely used, as it has been shown to correlate well with HVPG, though this relationship seems to weaken in values of HVPG higher than 12 mmHg, the threshold of serious complications development. Several studies supported the use of spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) instead of LSM, anticipating to a more adequate assessment of this advanced stage of PH. The aim of this paper is to critically appraise and summarize the literature about the role of SSM as a predictive tool of liver decompensation and prognosis, highlighting the strengths and the potential limitations of the studies published so far. EXPERT'S OPINION: The utility of SSM in ruling out high risk for bleeding varices in cirrhotic patients has been demonstrated, driving the Baveno VII consensus to encompass SSM in its last recommendations, though its use in patients with non-viral cirrhosis remains to be validated. We believe that in the near future, SSM alone or combined with other tests, will being used not only for sparing upper endoscopies, but also for predicting decompensation and prognosis in advanced compensated cirrhotic patients, regardless of liver disease's etiology. Herein, we present the data that support this consideration, pointing out these issues that should further be investigated in order to elucidate and intensify the value of SSM in the management of patients with liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios S Karagiannakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Laiko" General Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma Street, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Katerina Stefanaki
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Alexandra" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
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