Normal liver stiffness and influencing factors in healthy children: An individual participant data meta-analysis

Elastography-The New Standard in the Assessment of Fibrosis After Pediatric Liver Transplantation?

BACKGROUND

The development of graft fibrosis after pediatric liver transplantation (PLT) remains a major concern as it can lead to graft failure and ultimately graft loss. Elastography is a non-invasive method to assess liver fibrosis, but its role in the posttransplant setting is unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate shear wave elastography (SWE) in the assessment of liver fibrosis after PLT, including split-liver recipients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from PLT recipients who underwent surveillance liver biopsy and concurrent 2D-SWE during the study period from April 2018 to July 2021. Spearman's correlation was used to compare histologic fibrosis stages with liver stiffness measurements (LSM) by 2D-SWE. AUROC analysis was performed to evaluate the performance. One sample t-test was used to compare results with reference values of healthy children.

RESULTS

62 cases were included. 29% showed histologic fibrosis. LSM by 2D-SWE were feasible in all children regardless of age or graft type. There was a significant correlation between LSM and fibrosis stage for all three scoring systems used (Ishak, p = 0.003; METAVIR, p = 0.005; LAF Score, p = 0.003). Patients with a history of biliary complications had increased liver stiffness (p = 0.015). The AUROC of 2D-SWE for predicting significant liver graft fibrosis was 0.81. Liver stiffness after PLT without graft fibrosis was higher than in healthy subjects, but comparable to that in children with chronic liver disease without fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

2D-SWE can reliably detect children with significant liver graft fibrosis, even in split-liver recipients. This study demonstrates the value of a non-invasive tool for fibrosis staging after PLT. 2D-SWE has the potential to improve long-term outcomes after PLT and to reduce the number of surveillance liver biopsies. But elastography is not a substitute for liver biopsy.

Shear-wave elastography for monitoring Fontan-associated liver disease: A prospective cohort study

The spectrum of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) varies from abnormal liver function tests to fibrosis and even cirrhosis. In this prospective study, we evaluated the role of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in predicting the presence of advanced FALD. Forty-eight patients (30 males, 13.9 [6-21] years) with a Fontan circulation were evaluated at 8.3 (2.1-18.7) years since the Fontan surgery. The median liver stiffness measurement (LSM) value was higher than values in normal children at 15.4 (9.5-38.7) kPa. The LSMs had a weak but significant correlation with age at the time of LSM (r = 0.25, p = 0.01) and duration post-Fontan surgery (r = 0.31, p = 0.02). It had a poor correlation with the concomitant aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (r = 0.1, p = 0.39). No difference in the elastography values between children with and without ultrasound evidence of advanced liver disease (17.7 [interquartile range, IQR: 4] vs. 16.1 [IQR: 6], p = 0.62] was observed. Further studies are required to determine the precise role of SWE as a noninvasive marker of liver fibrosis in FALD.

A new criterion including the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and liver and spleen stiffness to rule out varices needing treatment in children with biliary atresia: Modification of the Baveno VII criteria

AIMS

Biliary atresia (BA) is a congestive biliary disease that develops in the neonatal period or early infancy. It may present with portal hypertension and varices needing treatment (VNT) even after successful Kasai portoenterostomy. This study aimed to stratify the risk of VNT in children and adolescents with BA.

METHODS

In this prospective cross-sectional study, we measured liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) by two-dimensional shear wave elastography and checked for VNT endoscopically in 53 patients with BA who attended for follow-up between July 2018 and September 2022. Varices needing treatment were defined as large esophageal varices, esophageal varices of any size with red color signs, and/or gastric varices along the cardia.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients (aged 0-18 years) had VNT. Eighteen patients met the Baveno VI criteria (LS <20 kPa; platelet count >150 000/L) and were deemed to be at low risk of VNT (spared endoscopies) while three had missed VNT (16.7%). Applying the Baveno VII criteria, which combines the SS cut-off value of 40 kPa with the Baveno VI criteria, resulted in five missed VNTs among 22 spared endoscopies (22.7%). A modification of the Baveno VII criteria using the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) instead of the platelet count with cut-off values of 25 kPa, 30 kPa, and 1.04 for LS, SS, and APRI, respectively, missed only one VNT (5.0%) among 20 spared endoscopies.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel diagnostic criterion that combines LS, SS, and APRI reduced the risk of missing VNT to 5% in children and adolescents with BA.

Liver fibrosis assessment in pediatric population - can ultrasound elastography be an alternative method to liver biopsy? A systematic review

Liver diseases of various etiologies are becoming increasingly common in the pediatric population. So far, the gold diagnostic standard in these disorders is liver biopsy. This procedure is invasive, painful and requires general anesthesia in this group of patients. Due to the continuous development of new research techniques, such as liver elastography, it is necessary to evaluate them in the context of their diagnostic usefulness. Ultrasound elastography, as a quick and effective method, is being used more and more often in the assessment and monitoring of liver dysfunction in both adults and children. There are several techniques of liver elastography, such as transient elastography, shear wave elastography consisting of various subtypes such as two-dimensional shear wave elastography, acoustic radiation force impulse and point shear wave elastography, which differ in terms of the measurement technique and the achieved results. The purpose of our review was to determine whether techniques of liver elastography could replace liver biopsy. Although now, based on the analyzed papers, elastography cannot replace liver biopsy, in our opinion, the role of this tool in monitoring pediatric patients with liver diseases will grow in the coming years.

Use of transient elastography to assess hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis during methotrexate treatment

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify predictors of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) during methotrexate treatment.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included JIA patients who had received methotrexate for > 1 year. Laboratory data including liver chemistry and lipid profiles were collected. Liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameters (CAP) were determined by transient elastography. Significant hepatic fibrosis was defined as LSM > 7 kilopascal (kPa), and hepatic steatosis was defined as CAP > 225 decibel/meter (dB/m). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors associated with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.

RESULTS

Of 60 patients, 66.7% were female, and the median age (IQR) was 12.8 (10.6-15.0) years. The median duration of methotrexate usage (IQR) was 45 (22-85) months, and the median cumulative dose of methotrexate (IQR) was 3768 (1806-6466) mg. The median LSM (IQR) and CAP (IQR) were 4.1 (3.4-4.6) kPa and 191.0 (170.3-223.8) dB/m, respectively. No patients had transient elastography-defined hepatic fibrosis, whereas 21.7% had hepatic steatosis. A body mass index Z-score > 1 (OR 5.71 [95%CI 1.31-24.98], p = 0.021) and higher cumulative dose of methotrexate (OR 1.02 [95%CI 1.00-1.04], p = 0.041) were associated with hepatic steatosis, whereas the cumulative dose of steroids was not (OR 1.00 [95%CI 1.00-1.01], p = 0.097).

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic steatosis is common among JIA patients receiving methotrexate, but none had transient elastography-defined hepatic fibrosis. Overweight/obese JIA adolescents and patients with a high cumulative dose of methotrexate are at risk for hepatic steatosis. Key Points •Long-term low-dose methotrexate usage and the concomitant use of other DMARDs did not increase the risk of hepatic fibrosis in JIA patients. •The prevalence of hepatic steatosis in JIA patients receiving methotrexate was higher than in a healthy pediatric population. •Overweight/obesity and a higher cumulative dose of methotrexate were predictors of hepatic steatosis.

Liver transient elastography values in healthy South African children

BACKGROUND

Transient elastography (TE) is a rapid noninvasive ultrasound-based technology that measures liver stiffness as a surrogate for liver fibrosis and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) as a measure of liver steatosis. However, normal ranges in children are not well defined in all populations. The aim of this study was to determine transient elastography values in healthy South African children.

METHODS

From April 2019 to December 2021, children were recruited from the HIV negative control group of a cohort study. Only children neither overweight nor obese, without evidence of liver disease, no medical condition or medication associated with hepatic steatosis or fibrosis and normal metabolic profile were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Clinical data, anthropometry and blood samples were collected on the same day as transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter was performed.

RESULTS

104 children (median age 12.8 years [IQR 11.4-14.8, range 7.9-17.7 years]; 59 [57%] boys) were included. Liver stiffness was positively correlated with age (Pearson's r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Median liver stiffness in boys (5.2 kPa [5th to 95th percentiles 3.6 to 6.8 kPa]) was greater than in girls (4.6 kPa [5th to 95th percentiles 3.6 to 6.1 kPa; p = 0.004]), but there was no difference by ethnicity. Median CAP was 179dB/m (5th to 95th percentiles 158 to 233dB/m). There was a positive correlation between CAP and body mass index (BMI) z-score, but no difference by age, sex, ethnicity or pubertal status.

CONCLUSION

Liver stiffness values increase with age and are higher in healthy South African boys than girls, whereas CAP values vary with BMI, but not with age or sex.

Usefulness of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in the assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children and adolescents

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) evaluates liver stiffness using a non-invasive method, but studies in the paediatric population are rare. This study evaluated the role of 2D-SWE in the diagnosis and severity of paediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In total, 131 patients with NAFLD and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis and severity of NAFLD were initially assessed using the ultrasound fatty liver index (US-FLI), and all participants underwent 2D-SWE. US-FLI semi-quantitatively measures the severity of NAFLD on a scale of 2-8. The assessment of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by 2D-SWE is presented in kilopascals (kPa). The NAFLD group was characterised by significantly higher LSM (4.40 ± 0.90 kPa) than the control group (3.76 ± 0.28 kPa) (P < 0.001). 2D-SWE significantly correlated with age, height, weight, body mass index, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, US-FLI, and triglyceride-glucose index (P < 0.001). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve of LSM for predicting US-FLI ≥ 2 and ≥ 6 was 0.784 (P < 0.001) and 0.819 (P < 0.001), respectively. In conclusion, we suggest that 2D-SWE can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for diagnosing and assessing the severity of paediatric NAFLD.

Serum biomarkers correlated with liver stiffness assessed in a multicenter study of pediatric cholestatic liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Detailed investigation of the biological pathways leading to hepatic fibrosis and identification of liver fibrosis biomarkers may facilitate early interventions for pediatric cholestasis.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

A targeted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based panel of nine biomarkers (lysyl oxidase, tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1, connective tissue growth factor [CTGF], IL-8, endoglin, periostin, Mac-2-binding protein, MMP-3, and MMP-7) was examined in children with biliary atresia (BA; n = 187), alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AT; n = 78), and Alagille syndrome (ALGS; n = 65) and correlated with liver stiffness (LSM) and biochemical measures of liver disease. Median age and LSM were 9 years and 9.5 kPa. After adjusting for covariates, there were positive correlations among LSM and endoglin ( p = 0.04) and IL-8 ( p < 0.001) and MMP-7 ( p < 0.001) in participants with BA. The best prediction model for LSM in BA using clinical and lab measurements had an R2 = 0.437; adding IL-8 and MMP-7 improved R2 to 0.523 and 0.526 (both p < 0.0001). In participants with A1AT, CTGF and LSM were negatively correlated ( p = 0.004); adding CTGF to an LSM prediction model improved R2 from 0.524 to 0.577 ( p = 0.0033). Biomarkers did not correlate with LSM in ALGS. A significant number of biomarker/lab correlations were found in participants with BA but not those with A1AT or ALGS.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoglin, IL-8, and MMP-7 significantly correlate with increased LSM in children with BA, whereas CTGF inversely correlates with LSM in participants with A1AT; these biomarkers appear to enhance prediction of LSM beyond clinical tests. Future disease-specific investigations of change in these biomarkers over time and as predictors of clinical outcomes will be important.

Immunogenicity of an mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccine among Adolescents with Obesity or Liver Transplants

There are limited data regarding the immunogenicity of mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 among immunosuppressed or obese adolescents. We evaluated the humoral immune response in adolescents with obesity and adolescent liver transplant recipients (LTRs) after receiving two BNT162b2 doses. Sixty-eight participants (44 males; mean age 14.9 ± 1.7 years), comprising 12 LTRs, 24 obese, and 32 healthy adolescents, were enrolled. Immunogenicity was evaluated by anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein immunoassay and surrogate viral neutralization tests (sVNT) against the Delta and Omicron (BA.1) variants. At 27.1 ± 3.2 days after the second dose, the antibody levels were 1476.6 ± 1185.4, 2999.4 ± 1725.9, and 4960.5 ± 2644.1 IU/mL in the LTRs, obese adolescents, and controls, respectively (p < 0.001). Among obese individuals, liver stiffness <5.5 kPa was associated with higher antibody levels. The %inhibition of sVNT was significantly lower for the Omicron than that for the Delta variant. Injection site pain was the most common local adverse event. Nine participants (three obese and six controls) developed COVID-19 at 49 ± 11 days after the second vaccination; four were treated with favipiravir. All infections were mild, and the patients recovered without any consequences. Our study supports the need for the booster regimen in groups with an inferior immunogenic response, including LTRs and obese individuals.

Transient Elastography Measures of Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis Are Associated With Body Composition Among US Adolescents

OBJECTIVES

Obesity-related fatty liver disease impacts long-term adolescent liver health. We examined transient elastography assessed hepatic steatosis and fibrosis distributions and relationships with body composition and lifestyle factors in a United States national adolescent population sample.

METHODS

Liver stiffness and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) were assessed on 1080 non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic boys and girls aged 12-19 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. Participants underwent anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

RESULTS

Compared with girls, boys had higher mean CAP (223.7 dB/m vs 215.3 dB/m) and liver stiffness (5.1 kPa vs 4.9 kPa). CAP and liver stiffness increased markedly with body mass index (BMI). In multivariable-adjusted analysis, CAP in the upper quartile was associated with Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian ethnicity and increased BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and sedentary time, and decreased physical activity and Healthy Eating Index-2015 score. In multivariable-adjusted analysis, liver stiffness in the upper quartile was associated with male sex, non-Hispanic black ethnicity, and increased BMI, alanine aminotransferase, CAP, and serum cotinine. DXA total percent fat and trunk fat percent were positively related to CAP ( P < 0.001 for each), but not to liver stiffness with multivariable adjustment. Results were similar with CAP and liver stiffness as continuous characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

In US adolescents, increased anthropometric and DXA body composition measures and lifestyle factors were associated with higher CAP and liver stiffness. Transient elastography and similar noninvasive markers may be utilized for early detection of liver disease in high-risk pediatric populations.

A Guide to Estimating the Reference Range From a Meta-Analysis Using Aggregate or Individual Participant Data

Clinicians frequently must decide whether a patient's measurement reflects that of a healthy "normal" individual. Thus, the reference range is defined as the interval in which some proportion (frequently 95%) of measurements from a healthy population is expected to fall. One can estimate it from a single study or preferably from a meta-analysis of multiple studies to increase generalizability. This range differs from the confidence interval for the pooled mean and the prediction interval for a new study mean in a meta-analysis, which do not capture natural variation across healthy individuals. Methods for estimating the reference range from a meta-analysis of aggregate data that incorporates both within- and between-study variations were recently proposed. In this guide, we present 3 approaches for estimating the reference range: one frequentist, one Bayesian, and one empirical. Each method can be applied to either aggregate or individual-participant data meta-analysis, with the latter being the gold standard when available. We illustrate the application of these approaches to data from a previously published individual-participant data meta-analysis of studies measuring liver stiffness by transient elastography in healthy individuals between 2006 and 2016.

Shear Wave Elastography in the Differentiation of Nonfibrotic Versus Fibrotic Liver Disease in Children: A Prospective Study With Histological Correlation

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) prospectively and to determine cutoff value for nonfibrotic liver tissue in children with suspected or established liver disease.

Methods

In 90 consecutive pediatric patients, standardized 2D-SWE was performed during general anesthesia and free breathing. Liver stiffness was estimated with SWE followed by a percutaneous biopsy from the corresponding area. SWE values were compared with histology with fibrosis scored according to Batts & Ludwig classification (grade 0-4 = F0-F4) and to hepatic biomarkers.

Results

Four patients with SWE interquartile range (IQR)/median ≥ 30% kPa were excluded. The remaining 86 children (59% males) had a mean age = 10.2 years (0.1-18). The distribution of individuals with median (min;max) SWE values (kPa) within each fibrosis grade were; F0[n = 10; 5.0(3.4;6.3)], F1[n = 24; 5.0(3.6;8.7)], F2[n = 32; 5.8(3.5;13.4)], F3[n = 12, 7.5(4.0;14.4)], and F4[n = 8; 12.5(6.6;21.0)]. There was a significant difference between fibrosis grades (0.03 > P < 0.002) except between F0 and F1 respectively between F1 and F2. The AuROC differentiating F0-1 from F2-4 was 0.77(95% CI: 0.67-0.87). A cutoff SWE value of ≤4.5 kPa yielded 90% sensitivity and 68% specificity to rule out significant fibrosis (F2-F4). Out of the 18 children (21%) with SWE value ≤4.5 kPa, 12 had grade F0-1 and 6 had F2, although including some confounders for increased SWE measurements as steatosis/hepatitis/cholestasis.

Conclusions

2D-SWE ultrasound can reliably distinguish no/mild (F0/F1) from moderate/severe (F2-F4) fibrosis in children with suspected/established liver disease with good sensitivity and acceptable specificity. Our results show that in pediatric patients, when the indication for biopsy is to rule out significant fibrosis, SWE can be considered an alternative.

Pediatric percentiles for transient elastography measurements - effects of age, sex, weight status and pubertal stage

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Transient Elastography is a non-invasive, cost-efficient, non-ionizing, observer-independent and reliable method to detect liver fibrosis using Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM) and the degree of fat accumulation in the liver using Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP). This study aims to derive reference values for both measures from healthy children and adolescents. Further, we aim to assess the potential influence of age, sex, puberty, and BMI-SDS on CAP and LSM.

METHODS

Within the LIFE Child study, amongst others, anthropometric data and pubertal status were assessed. Transient Elastography (TE) was performed using the FibroScan^® device in a population-based cohort at 982 study visits of 482 healthy children aged between 10 and 18 years. Percentiles for LSM and CAP were estimated, and the effects of age, sex, puberty and weight status were assessed through hierarchical regression models.

RESULTS

There was a strong age dependency for LSM with higher values for older children, most pronounced in the upper percentiles in boys. Contrarily, CAP was relatively stable across the age span without considerable difference between boys and girls. We found a significant positive correlation between BMI-SDS and both CAP and LSM for BMI-SDS >1.28. For BMI-SDS < 1.28, the association was also positive but reached statistical significance only for CAP. Further, the association between BMI-SDS and CAP was significantly stronger in younger than in older children. There was no association between pubertal status and CAP. For LSM, we found that children with a high BMI-SDS but not children with normal weight had significantly higher LSM values in Tanner stage 4.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, sex, pubertal status and weight status should be considered when interpreting LSM and CAP in pediatric patients to facilitate and improve early detection of abnormal liver function, which is associated with common pathologies, such as NAFLD.

Fatty Liver through the Ages- Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

BACKGROUND

The global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus is the main driver of the growing global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to review the current literature on NAFLD and NASH as it impacts children and adults.

METHODS

We performed a literature search on fatty liver specifically non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) among children and adults.

RESULTS

The prevalence of NAFLD in children ranges from 8%-12% while the prevalence in adults ranges 25%-48%. The prevalence of NASH among children with NAFLD is 23% while it ranges from 13% to 65% in the adults. There are similar risk factors for NAFLD among children and adults. However, in children, the diagnostic tests in the studies of NAFLD are limited to elevation of ALT level or a liver biopsy. In adults, additional diagnostic modalities, including non-invasive tests (NITs), have been used. From the spectrum of NAFLD, those with NASH are predominantly at risk of progressive liver disease to cirrhosis and liver-related mortality. NAFLD is associated with impairment of health-related quality of life and substantial economic burden.

CONCLUSION

The comprehensive burden (clinical, HRQL and economic) of NAFLD is high and increasing.

Emerging clinical perspectives in cystic fibrosis liver disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Liver disease (CFLD) as a complication of cystic fibrosis is recognized as a more severe disease phenotype in both children and adults. We review recent advances in understanding the disease mechanism and consider the implications of new strategies for the diagnosis and management of cystic fibrosis in those with evidence of clinically significant liver disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Evidence suggests that the prevalence of CFLD has not declined with the introduction of newborn screening. Furthermore, children with CFLD, who have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis following newborn screening continue to have a much higher mortality rate compared with those with no liver disease. There is further data suggesting noncirrhotic obliterative portal venopathy as the predominant pathological mechanism in the majority of children and young adults receiving a liver transplantation. Little progress has been made in developing an accurate noninvasive test for early diagnosis or monitoring disease progression in CFLD. The benefit of new modulator therapies is not well understood in those with established CFLD, whereas the risk of hepatotoxicity as a complication of treatment must be carefully monitored.

SUMMARY

Better understanding of the pathophysiology of CFLD would allow a standardized approach to diagnosis, with the potential to improve outcomes for those with CFLD.

Liver chemistries in glycogenic hepatopathy associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and pooled analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) in type 1 diabetes-mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by hepatomegaly and perturbations of liver chemistries (LC) that have not been well studied. Furthermore, misdiagnosis with other hepatic complications of T1DM, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, has been described. We perform a systematic review of biopsy-proven GH reports in T1DM patients to identify LC patterns.

METHODS

A systematic review identified reports of biopsy-proven GH in patients with T1DM. We excluded GH with other liver diseases, Mauriac syndrome, or GH without T1DM. Two reviewers screened and extracted studies and assessed their methodological quality. LC elevation magnitude, AST-to-ALT ratio, R-ratio to designate hepatocellular, cholestatic or mixed pattern of hepatic injury, and evolution of transaminases after glycemic control were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 192 patients were included, with median age of 20 years, 73% adults, 66% females, median duration of T1DM before diagnosis 10 years, median adult body mass index 21 kg/m² , median HbA1c 12%, at least one episode of diabetic ketoacidosis 70%, and hepatomegaly 92%. ALT and AST showed moderate-to-severe elevation in 78% and 76%, respectively, AST/ALT >1 in 71% and hepatocellular to mixed pattern of hepatic injury in 81%. Transaminase improvement with glycemic control was the rule, regardless of other factors in multilinear regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

GH tends to have AST-predominant elevation with a median of 13 times the upper normal limit and R-ratio >2, which may distinguish it from other etiologies of AST-predominant LC elevation, and in the appropriate clinical context, may obviate invasive tests.

Attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement using FibroTouch vs Fibroscan in patients with chronic liver disease

Background & aim

We studied FibroTouch (FT) and Fibroscan (FS) examination results and their repeatability when performed by healthcare personnel of different background.

Methods

FT and FS examinations were performed on patients with chronic liver disease by two operators, a doctor and a nurse, twice on each patient, at two different time points, independent of each other.

Results

The data for 163 patients with 1304 examinations was analyzed. There was strong correlation between FT and FS for attenuation parameter (Spearman’s rho 0.76, p<0.001) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) (Spearman’s rho 0.70, p<0.001). However, FT produced higher value at lower attenuation parameter and LSM, and lower value at higher attenuation parameter and LSM. There was substantial agreement when using 15kPa LSM cut-off, but only moderate agreement when using 10kPa and 20kPa LSM cut-offs and 248dB/m, 268dB/m and 280dB/m attenuation parameter cut-offs. The IQR for attenuation parameter and IQR/median for LSM were significantly lower for FT compared with FS (4dB/m vs 27dB/m, p<0.001, and 10 vs 12, p<0.001, respectively). The intra- and inter-observer reliability of attenuation parameter and LSM using FT and FS were good to excellent with intraclass correlation coefficients 0.89–0.99. FT had shorter examination time (33s vs 47s, p<0.001) and less invalid measurements (0 vs 2, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Measurements obtained with FT and FS strongly correlated, but significant differences in their absolute values, consistency, examination time and number of invalid measurements were observed. Either device can be used by healthcare personnel of different backgrounds when sufficiently trained.

Endoscopic pancreatic duct stenting for pain palliation in selected pancreatic cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Abdominal pain is a debilitating symptom affecting ∼80% of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients. Pancreatic duct (PD) decompression has been reported to alleviate this pain, although this practice has not been widely adopted. We aimed to evaluate the role, efficacy, and safety of endoscopic PD decompression for palliation of PC post-prandial obstructive-type pain.

Methods

A systematic review until 7 October 2020 was performed. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality.

Results

We identified 12 publications with a total of 192 patients with PC presenting with abdominal pain, in whom PD decompression was attempted, and was successful in 167 patients (mean age 62.5 years, 58.7% males). The use of plastic stents was reported in 159 patients (95.2%). All included studies reported partial or complete improvement in pain levels after PD stenting, with an improvement rate of 93% (95% confidence interval, 79%–100%). The mean duration of pain improvement was 94 ± 16 days. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related adverse events (AEs) were post-sphincterotomy bleeding (1.8%), post-ERCP pancreatitis (0.6%), and hemosuccus pancreaticus (0.6%). AEs were not reported in two patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided PD decompression. In the 167 patients with technical success, the stent-migration and stent-occlusion rates were 3.6% and 3.0%, respectively. No AE-related mortality was reported. The methodological quality assessment showed the majority of the studies having low or unclear quality.

Conclusion

In this exploratory analysis, endoscopic PD drainage may be an effective and safe option in selected patients for the management of obstructive-type PC pain. However, a randomized–controlled trial is needed to delineate the role of this invasive practice.

Efficacy and safety of combined endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous occlusion (BRTOcc) of gastrorenal shunts in patients with bleeding gastric fundal varices

Background

Endoscopic cyanoacrylate (glue) injection of fundal varices may result in life-threatening embolic adverse events through spontaneous gastrorenal shunts (GRSs). Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous occlusion (BRTOcc) of GRSs during cyanoacrylate injection may prevent serious systemic glue embolization through the shunt. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combined endoscopic–interventional radiologic (BRTOcc) approach for the treatment of bleeding fundal varices.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed the data of patients who underwent the combined procedure for acutely bleeding fundal varices between January 2010 and April 2018. Data were extracted for patient demographics, clinical and endoscopic findings, technical details, and adverse events of the endoscopic–BRTOcc approach and patient outcomes.

Results

We identified 30 patients (13 [43.3%] women; median age 58 [range, 25–92] years) with gastroesophageal varices type 2 (53.3%, 16/30) and isolated gastric varices type 1 (46.7%, 14/30) per Sarin classification, and median clinical and endoscopic follow-up of 151 (range, 4–2,513) days and 98 (range, 3–2,373) days, respectively. The median volume of octyl-cyanoacrylate: Lipiodol injected was 7 (range, 4–22) mL. Procedure-related adverse events occurred in three (10.0%) patients, including transient fever, non-life-threatening pulmonary glue embolism, and an injection-site ulcer bleed. Complete gastric variceal obturation was achieved in 18 of 21 patients (85.7%) at endoscopic follow-up. Delayed variceal rebleeding was confirmed in one patient (3.3%) and suspected in two patients (6.7%). Although no procedure-related deaths occurred, the overall mortality rate was 46.7%, primarily from liver-disease progression and co-morbidities.

Conclusion

The combined endoscopic–BRTOcc procedure is a relatively safe and effective technique for bleeding fundal varices, with a high rate of variceal obturation and a low rate of serious adverse events.