Portal hypertension: a comparison between portal-venous pressure measurement and ARFI measurement of liver and spleen stiffness

Borghi, Alberto (2012) Portal hypertension: a comparison between portal-venous pressure measurement and ARFI measurement of liver and spleen stiffness, [Dissertation thesis], Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna. Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze mediche generali e scienze dei servizi: progetto n. 4 "Ultrasonologia in medicina umana e veterinaria", 24 Ciclo. DOI 10.6092/unibo/amsdottorato/4721.
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Abstract

PURPOSE. Portal pressure is measured invasively as Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) in the angiography room. Liver stiffness measured by Fibroscan was shown to correlate with HVPG values below 12 mmHg. This is not surprising, since in cirrhosis the increase of portal pressure is not directly linked with liver fibrosis and consequently to liver stiffness. We hypothesized that, given the spleen’s privileged location upstream to the whole portal system, splenic stiffness could provide relevant information about portal pressure. Aim of the study was to assess the relationship between liver and spleen stiffness measured by Virtual Touch™ (ARFI) and HVPG in cirrhotic patients. METHODS. 40 consecutive patients (30 males, mean age 62y, mean BMI=26, mean Child-Pugh A6, mean platelet count=92.000/mmc, 19 HCV+, 7 with ascites) underwent to ARFI stiffness measurement (10 valid measurements in right liver lobe both surface and centre, left lobe and 20 in the spleen) and HPVG, blindly to each other. Median ARFI values of 10 samplings on every liver area and of 20 samplings on spleen were calculated. RESULTS. Stiffness could be easily measured in all patients with ARFI, resulting a mean of 2,61±0,76, 2,5±0,62 and 2,55±0,66 m/sec in the liver areas and 3.3±0,5 m/s in the spleen. Median HPVG was 14 mmHg (range 5-27); 28 patients showed values ≥10 mmHg. A positive significant correlation was found between spleen stiffness and HPVG values (r=0.744, p<0.001). No significant correlation was found between all liver stiffness and HVPG (p>0,05). AUROC was calculated to test spleen stiffness ability in discriminating patients with HVPG ≥10. AUROC = 0.911 was obtained, with sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 91% at a cut-off of 3.26 m/s. CONCLUSION. Spleen stiffness measurement with ARFI correlates with HVPG in patients with cirrhosis, with a potential of identifying patients with clinically significant portal hypertension.

Abstract
Tipologia del documento
Tesi di dottorato
Autore
Borghi, Alberto
Supervisore
Dottorato di ricerca
Scuola di dottorato
Scienze mediche e chirurgiche cliniche
Ciclo
24
Coordinatore
Settore disciplinare
Settore concorsuale
Parole chiave
Cirrosis, Portal Hypertension, Stiffness, Ultrasound
URN:NBN
DOI
10.6092/unibo/amsdottorato/4721
Data di discussione
2 Aprile 2012
URI

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