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5 recent highlights in fibrosis, liver stiffness
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Recently published studies have shown new innovations for measuring liver stiffness, such as a novel Doppler imaging technology and an analysis of magnetic resonance elastography for measuring liver stiffness in pediatric patients.
Additionally, Healio.com/Hepatology has reported on the association between fibrosis score and increased liver disease mortality, the association between fibrosis stage and increased risk for type 2 diabetes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and the association between lower levels of liver stiffness and frequent consumption of coffee and herbal tea.
Frequent coffee, herbal tea intake linked to lower levels of liver stiffness
Researchers observed an association between more frequent coffee and herbal tea consumption and lower liver stiffness measurements, according to a recently published study.
“Coffee and tea are the most consumed beverages worldwide and emerging as promising nutraceuticals for liver health. Consumption of these nutraceuticals has been associated with lower all-cause and cause-specific mortality, presumably through reducing the risk of features of the metabolic syndrome,” Louise J.M. Alferink, MD, from the Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues wrote. “This large population-based cohort study shows an inverse and independent association between coffee and herbal tea consumption and log-transformed [liver stiffness measurement].” Read more
Fibrosis score linked to increased overall, liver disease mortality
Data from a recently published study revealed a significant association between liver fibrosis scores and increased rates of liver disease mortality and overall mortality.
“In a previous paper using the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) population with mortality follow-up through 2006, fibrosis predicted by [nonalcoholic fatty liver disease score (NFS), aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio (APRI) or stage 4 score] was independently associated with increased mortality, primarily from cardiovascular disease, among persons with suspected NAFLD,” Aynur Unalp-Arida, MD, PhD, and Constance E. Ruhl, MD, PhD, wrote. “Mortality ascertainment is now complete for NHANES III through 2011, providing up to 23 years of follow-up.” Read more
Doppler microvascular imaging predicts extent of liver fibrosis
Superb microvascular imaging technology showed potential to predict the extent of liver fibrosis by detecting the small vessels present near the liver surface, according to a recent study.
“Recently a new Doppler technology, superb microvascular imaging (SMI, Toshiba), which provides outstanding depiction of flow in very small vessels and at lower velocities without motion artifacts, was developed,” the researchers wrote. “Superb microvascular imaging analyzes tissue motion (clutter) and uses a new adaptive algorithm to identify and remove the tissue motion and reveal true blood flow.” Read more
Fibrosis stage, fat score increase risk for type 2 diabetes in NAFLD patients
In a retrospective study, researchers observed an association between stage 3 and 4 fibrosis and histologic fat scores in stage 0 to 2 and increased risk for type 2 diabetes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Finding [type 2 diabetes] early in the process could allow for more intense treatment and lifestyle modifications, which could reduce future morbidity and mortality,” the researchers wrote. “With the vast number of patients with NAFLD, it is vital to identify relevant risk factors associated with the development of [type 2 diabetes] to be able to focus resources on high-risk patient groups for [diabetes] screening.” Read more
MRE measures liver stiffness in pediatric patients with NAFLD
Magnetic resonance elastography showed potential as a noninvasive measurement of hepatic stiffness in pediatric patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to results of the recent MRI Assessment Guiding NAFLD Evaluation and Treatment study, or MAGNET.
“In MAGNET, we performed a dual-center study of MRE in children with NAFLD and compared MRE-measured hepatic stiffness to liver histology fibrosis stage,” Jeffrey B. Schwimmer, MD, from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “Overall, the correlation between MRE estimated hepatic shear stiffness and liver fibrosis stage was good. Notably, MRE did not perform as well in children with NAFLD compared to previously reported studies in adults.” Read more