Transient elastography in patients with celiac disease: a noninvasive method to detect liver involvement associated with celiac disease

Ultrasonography: Applications in Pediatric Abdomen

Ultrasonography (US) is a valuable imaging tool for evaluation of different clinical conditions in children, in general and abdominal conditions, in particular. The interest in US derives primarily from the lack of ionizing radiation exposure, low cost, portability, real-time imaging and Doppler capabilities. In addition, US application requires no preparation or sedation, making it particularly attractive in the pediatric population. Because of these advantages, US has been adopted as the primary imaging tool for evaluation of a number of pediatric abdominal conditions that would have involved the use of ionising radiation in the past, e.g., pyloric stenosis, intussusception and various renal and bladder abnormalities, to name a few. Certain limitations, however, are inherent to US including large body habitus, excessive bowel gas, postoperative state and the learning curve. In addition, pediatric US is particularly challenging as the children are frequently unable to co-operate for breath holding and many of them are crying during the scanning. In the present review, the authors discuss the various applications of US in the evaluation of pediatric abdomen.

Hepatic hemangioma in celiac patients: data from a large consecutive series

Background and Aims. Hepatic hemangioma (HH) has a widely ranging prevalence. The etiology is unclear; however, associations with autoimmune disorders have been described. We aimed at evaluating the prevalence of HH in celiac disease. Methods. Ninety-seven consecutive patients with celiac disease (18 M, 79 F, median age 41, and range 17-84 years) underwent liver ultrasound between January 2011 and 2012. The findings were compared with those of 1352 nonceliac patients (581 M, 771 F, median age 50, and range 16-94 years), without liver disease or previously detected HH, who underwent US in the same period. Results. Ultrasonographic findings consistent with HH were observed in 14 celiac patients (14.4%), a prevalence significantly higher than in controls (69 cases, 5.1%) (P = 0.0006). Subgroup analysis showed that, among women, the prevalence of HH was 16.4% in the celiac disease group (13/79) compared with 5.9% in controls (46/771) (P = 0.002). In celiac setting, HH had a median diameter of 1.3 cm and presented as a single lesion in 12 cases (86%). Conclusions. Our findings are consistent with a significantly higher prevalence of HH in celiac patients. Although mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear, autoimmune and metabolic processes, as well as alterations of gut-liver axis equilibrium, could play a role.

Prevalence and causes of abnormal liver function in patients with coeliac disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Coeliac disease patients frequently display mild elevation of liver enzymes and this abnormality usually normalizes after gluten-free diet. To investigate the cause and prevalence of altered liver function tests in coeliac patients, basally and after 1 year of gluten-free diet.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from 245 untreated CD patients (196 women and 49 men, age range 15-80 years) were retrospectively analysed and the liver function tests before and after diet, as well as associated liver pathologies, were assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, 43/245 (17.5%) patients had elevated values of one or both aminotransferases; the elevation was mild (<5 times the upper reference limit) in 41 (95%) and marked (>10 times the upper reference limit) in the remaining 2 (5%) patients. After 1 year of gluten-free diet, aminotransferase levels normalized in all but four patients with HCV infection or primary biliary cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In coeliac patients, hypertransaminaseaemia at diagnosis and the lack of normalization of liver enzymes after 12 months of diet suggest coexisting liver disease. In such instance, further evaluation is recommended to exclude the liver disease. Early recognition and treatment of coeliac disease in patients affected by liver disease are important to improve the liver function and prevent complications.

The role of transient elastography in the detection of liver disease in patients with chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Quantification of liver stiffness with transient elastography (TE) is validated for staging hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection. The current study was aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement for the determination of fibrosis stage in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

METHODS

Thirty consecutive patients with chronic pancreatitis and increased liver enzyme were enrolled over a 2.5-year period. Eight liver living donor candidates were recruited to serve as internal controls. The TE values were compared with non-invasive fibrosis scoring systems including aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, APRI, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD score, FIB-4 index and to liver histology.

RESULTS

TE was successful in all patients. Stiffness values ranged from 3.1 to 69 kPa (mean 16.9). Liver stiffness was correlated with fibrosis stage (Spearman's correlation 0.73, P < 0.0001). Areas under receiver operator characteristics curves for fibrosis F = 4 were 0.92 for TE, 0.87 for FIB-4 index, 0.81 for APRI, 0.73 for NAFLD score and 0.71 for AST/ALT ratio. Optimal stiffness cut-off values for diagnosis fibrosis F = 4 was 10.9 kPa, with 90% sensitivity, 85% specificity and 86% accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides for the first time evidence that liver stiffness in patients with chronic pancreatitis and concomitant cholestasis can be measured by TE.