Liver Stiffness Measurements Using Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse in Recipients of Living-Donor and Deceased-Donor Orthotopic Liver Transplant

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the acoustic radiation force impulse (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) elastography in assessment of fibrosis in orthotopic liver transplant patients. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 28 orthotopic liver transplant patients (5 deceased and 23 living donors), whose biopsy decision had been prospectively given clinically. Ten acoustic radiation force impulse elastographic measurements were applied before the biopsy or within 3 days after the biopsy by 2 radiologists. After the core tissue needle biopsy, specimens of all patients were analyzed according to the modified Ishak scoring system. Measurements of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and pathology specimen results were compared. Results: From 28 biopsies, fibrosis scores of 4 biopsies were evaluated as F0 (14.3%), 16 as F1 (57.1%), 4 as F2 (14.3%), and 4 as F3 (14.3%). Mean results of acoustic radiation force impulse measurements were calculated as 1.4 +/- 0.07 in F0, 1.74 +/- 0.57 in F1, 2.19 +/- 0.7 in F2, and 2.18 +/- 0.35 in F3. There were no significant correlations of mean acoustic radiation force impulse values between the F0 versus F1 (P =.956) and F0 versus F2 stages (P =.234). A statistically significant correlation of mean acoustic radiation force impulse values was found between the F0 and F3 fibrosis stages (P =.046). Conclusions: Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging is a promising screening test for detecting significant liver fibrosis (>= F3 in modified Ishak) in living- donor or deceased-donor orthotopic liver transplant recipients.

Automated summary

The study assessed the diagnostic efficiency of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography in evaluating fibrosis in orthotopic liver transplant patients and compared the results with pathology specimens. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging shows promise as a screening test for detecting significant liver fibrosis.