POINT SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAPHY FOR NON-INVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIVER FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH VIRAL HEPATITIS

Elastography point quantification (ElastPQ) is a new ultrasound-based shear wave elastography method for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of ElastPQ in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Fibrosis stage (F) was determined by transient elastography (F0/F1: <7.1 kPa, F2: 7.1-9.4 kPa, F3: 9.5-12.4 kPa, F4: >= 12.5 kPa). Area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUROC) analysis was performed to assess ElastPQ cutoffs for significant fibrosis (>= F2) and cirrhosis (F4). Paired transient elastography and ElastPQ measurements were obtained from 217 patients (mean age +/- SEM: 49 +/- 0.79 years, 68.2% male, F0/F1: n = 98 145.0%], F2: 47 [21.6%], F3: 22 [10.1%1, F4: 50 [22.9%]). AUROC for >= F2 was 0.843 (95% confidence interval: 0.791-0.895), and for F4, 0.933 (95% confidence interval: 0.894-0.972). The optimal ElastPQ cutoff for F2 was 6.68 kPa (sensitivity: 80.7%, specificity: 70.4%, positive predictive value: 78.5%, negative predictive value: 72.3%), and for F4 11.28 kPa (sensitivity: 86.0%, specificity: 85.6%, positive predictive value: 60.52%, negative predictive value: 97.16%). In conclusion, ElastPQ represents an accurate tool for non-invasive staging of liver fibrosis in patients with viral hepatitis. (C) 2018 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. All rights reserved.