Comparison of point-shear wave elastography (ElastPQ) and transient elastography (FibroScan) for liver fibrosis staging in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background and Aims ElastPQ is a point shear wave elastography technique used to non-invasively assess liver fibrosis. We compared liver stiffness measurements (LSM) by ElastPQ and fibroscan transient elastography (F-TE) in a cohort of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We further evaluated the performance of ElastPQ in a subgroup of patients with available liver histology. Materials and Methods We included patients with NAFLD who presented in a dedicated multidisciplinary clinic. Anthropometric parameters, blood tests and elastography measurements were obtained using F-TE and ElastPQ as part of routine clinical care. Results We enrolled 671 patients with NAFLD, mean age 55.8 +/- 13 years, body mass index (BMI) 31.5 +/- 5.7 kg/m(2), 56.6% males, 41% diabetes, 53.7% hypertension, 68% dyslipidaemia. ElastPQ showed an excellent correlation with F-TE (Spearman's r = 0.80, p < .001), which was better for mild/moderate stages of fibrosis. Independent predictors of a >2 kPa discrepancy between the two techniques were a larger waist circumference and F-TE >= 10 kPa. In the subgroup of 159 patients with available histology, ElastPQ showed similar diagnostic accuracy with F-TE in staging liver fibrosis (ElastPQ area under the curves 0.84, 0.83, 0.86 and 0.95, for F >= 1, F >= 2, F >= 3 and F = 4 respectively). Optimal cut-off values of ElastPQ for individual fibrosis stages were lower than those of F-TE. Conclusions ElastPQ shows an excellent correlation with F-TE in patients with NAFLD, which was better for lower LSM. The optimal cut-off values of ElastPQ are lower than those of F-TE for individual stages of fibrosis. ElastPQ has similar diagnostic accuracy to F-TE for all stages of fibrosis.

Automated summary

This study compared liver stiffness measurements between ElastPQ and F-TE in patients with NAFLD, showing excellent correlation between the two techniques, especially for lower LSM. ElastPQ demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy to F-TE in staging liver fibrosis in patients with available liver histology.