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Dietrich CF, Shi L, Löwe A, Dong Y, Potthoff A, Sparchez Z, Teufel A, Guth S, Koch J, Barr RG, Cui XW. Conventional ultrasound for diagnosis of hepatic steatosis is better than believed. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GASTROENTEROLOGIE 2021; 60:1235-1248. [PMID: 34171931 DOI: 10.1055/a-1491-1771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic steatosis is a condition frequently encountered in clinical practice, with potential progression towards fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Detection and staging of hepatic steatosis are of most importance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disease with a high prevalence of more than 1 billion individuals affected. Ultrasound (US) is one of the most used noninvasive imaging techniques used in the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis. Detection of hepatic steatosis with US relies on several conventional US parameters, which will be described. US is the first-choice imaging in adults at risk for hepatic steatosis. The use of some scoring systems may add additional accuracy especially in assessing the severity of hepatic steatosis. SUMMARY In the presented paper, we discuss screening and risk stratification, ultrasound features for diagnosing hepatic steatosis, B-mode criteria, focal fatty patterns and Doppler features of the hepatic vessels, and the value of the different US signs for the diagnosis of liver steatosis including classifying the severity of steatosis using different US scores. Limitations of conventional B-mode and Doppler features in the evaluation of hepatic steatosis are also discussed, including those in grading and assessing the complications of steatosis, namely fibrosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. KEY MESSAGES Ultrasound is the first-line imaging examination for the screening and follow-up of patients with liver steatosis. The use of some scoring systems may add additional accuracy in assessing the severity of steatosis. Conventional B-mode and Doppler ultrasound have limitations in grading and assessing the complications of steatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph F Dietrich
- Department Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Kliniken Hirslanden, Beau Site, Salem und Permanence, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Long Shi
- Department of Ultrasound, Jingmen No. 2 People's Hospital, Jingmen, Hubei, China
| | - Axel Löwe
- Department Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Kliniken Hirslanden, Beau Site, Salem und Permanence, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yi Dong
- Ultrasound Department, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Andrej Potthoff
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Zeno Sparchez
- Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreas Teufel
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Guth
- Conradia Medical Prevention Hamburg, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | - Jonas Koch
- Department Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Kliniken Hirslanden, Beau Site, Salem und Permanence, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Richard G Barr
- Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Southwoods Imaging, Youngstown, OH, USA
| | - Xin-Wu Cui
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Ballestri S, Tana C, Di Girolamo M, Fontana MC, Capitelli M, Lonardo A, Cioni G. Semi-Quantitative Ultrasonographic Evaluation of NAFLD. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 26:3915-3927. [PMID: 32303161 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200417142444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) embraces histopathological entities ranging from the relatively benign simple steatosis to the progressive form nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with fibrosis and an increased risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is the most common liver disease and is associated with extrahepatic comorbidities including a major cardiovascular disease burden. The non-invasive diagnosis of NAFLD and the identification of subjects at risk of progressive liver disease and cardio-metabolic complications are key in implementing personalized treatment schedules and follow-up strategies. In this review, we highlight the potential role of ultrasound semiquantitative scores for detecting and assessing steatosis severity, progression of NAFLD, and cardio-metabolic risk. Ultrasonographic scores of fatty liver severity act as sensors of cardio-metabolic health and may assist in selecting patients to submit to second-line non-invasive imaging techniques and/or liver biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Ballestri
- Internal Medicine Unit, Pavullo Hospital, Azienda USL, Modena, Italy
| | - Claudio Tana
- Internal Medicine Unit, Pavullo Hospital, Azienda USL, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Di Girolamo
- Internal Medicine Unit, Pavullo Hospital, Azienda USL, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Mariano Capitelli
- Internal Medicine Unit, Pavullo Hospital, Azienda USL, Modena, Italy
| | - Amedeo Lonardo
- Internal Medicine Unit, Pavullo Hospital, Azienda USL, Modena, Italy
| | - Giorgio Cioni
- Internal Medicine Unit, Pavullo Hospital, Azienda USL, Modena, Italy
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Cardiovascular Risk in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16173104. [PMID: 31455011 PMCID: PMC6747357 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16173104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
New evidence suggests that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a strong multifaceted relationship with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, regardless of traditional risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Given the pandemic-level rise of NAFLD—in parallel with the increasing prevalence of obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome—and its association with poor cardiovascular outcomes, the question of how to manage NAFLD properly, in order to reduce the burden of associated incident cardiovascular events, is both timely and highly relevant. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the association between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease, and also to discuss possible clinical strategies for cardiovascular risk assessment, as well as the spectrum of available therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD and its downstream events.
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