Article: The use of transient elastography in the management of chronic hepatitis B

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TitleThe use of transient elastography in the management of chronic hepatitis B
AuthorsFung, J1
Lai, CL1
Seto, WK1
Yuen, MF1
KeywordsFibroscan
Liver fibrosis
Noninvasive
Issue Date2011
PublisherSpringer New York LLC. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.springer.com/west/home/medicine?SGWID=4-10054-70-173733513-0
CitationHepatology International, 2011, v. 5 n. 4, p. 868-875 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12072-011-9288-5
AbstractThere has been increasing interest in noninvasive methods of assessing liver fibrosis over the last decade. The use of transient elastography in measuring liver stiffness has become the forefront of a wide range of noninvasive tools. Most of the other methods are based on measurements of biomarkers associated with fibrosis. There are several reasons for its wide acceptance, including the ease of performing a scan, the short procedure time, the results being immediately available on completion of the examination, and its reproducibility. For chronic hepatitis B (CHB), the cut-off values for F3 and F4 fibrosis range between 7.5-12.0 and 11.0-13.4 kPa, respectively, although the cut-offs may be slightly lower in those with normal ALT. In addition to measuring liver fibrosis, recent studies have demonstrated several other roles for transient elastography, including selecting patients who will benefit from antiviral therapy, monitoring response to antiviral therapy, and predicting long-term outcomes. However, there are limitations associated with transient elastography, including the confounding effects of inflammatory activity, and to a lesser extent, steatosis, on liver stiffness. There is also reduced accuracy observed in lower fibrosis stages (F0-F2). Furthermore, the incidences of failed and unreliable scan have been reported to be ~ 3 and 16%, respectively. Although liver biopsy can be avoided in an estimated 50-60% using transient elastography, in situations where liver stiffness measurement is nondiagnostic or inconsistent with the clinical picture, a biopsy is still recommended. Further studies are needed to consolidate the role of transient elastography in the management of CHB, and for incorporation of this method into current treatment guidelines. © 2011 The Author(s).
ISSN1936-0533
2011 Impact Factor: 2.645
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.244
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12072-011-9288-5
ISI Accession Number IDWOS:000297133500002
PubMed Central IDPMC3215876
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorFung, J
dc.contributor.authorLai, CL
dc.contributor.authorSeto, WK
dc.contributor.authorYuen, MF
dc.date.accessioned2012-02-21T05:44:22Z
dc.date.available2012-02-21T05:44:22Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractThere has been increasing interest in noninvasive methods of assessing liver fibrosis over the last decade. The use of transient elastography in measuring liver stiffness has become the forefront of a wide range of noninvasive tools. Most of the other methods are based on measurements of biomarkers associated with fibrosis. There are several reasons for its wide acceptance, including the ease of performing a scan, the short procedure time, the results being immediately available on completion of the examination, and its reproducibility. For chronic hepatitis B (CHB), the cut-off values for F3 and F4 fibrosis range between 7.5-12.0 and 11.0-13.4 kPa, respectively, although the cut-offs may be slightly lower in those with normal ALT. In addition to measuring liver fibrosis, recent studies have demonstrated several other roles for transient elastography, including selecting patients who will benefit from antiviral therapy, monitoring response to antiviral therapy, and predicting long-term outcomes. However, there are limitations associated with transient elastography, including the confounding effects of inflammatory activity, and to a lesser extent, steatosis, on liver stiffness. There is also reduced accuracy observed in lower fibrosis stages (F0-F2). Furthermore, the incidences of failed and unreliable scan have been reported to be ~ 3 and 16%, respectively. Although liver biopsy can be avoided in an estimated 50-60% using transient elastography, in situations where liver stiffness measurement is nondiagnostic or inconsistent with the clinical picture, a biopsy is still recommended. Further studies are needed to consolidate the role of transient elastography in the management of CHB, and for incorporation of this method into current treatment guidelines. © 2011 The Author(s).
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_version
dc.description.otherSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 2012
dc.identifier.citationHepatology International, 2011, v. 5 n. 4, p. 868-875 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12072-011-9288-5
dc.identifier.citeulike9476932
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12072-011-9288-5
dc.identifier.eissn1936-0541
dc.identifier.epage875
dc.identifier.hkuros211110
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000297133500002
dc.identifier.issn1936-0533
2011 Impact Factor: 2.645
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.244
dc.identifier.issue4
dc.identifier.pmcidPMC3215876
dc.identifier.pmid21695588
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-81855183204
dc.identifier.spage868
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/144890
dc.identifier.volume5
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherSpringer New York LLC. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.springer.com/west/home/medicine?SGWID=4-10054-70-173733513-0
dc.publisher.placeUnited States
dc.relation.ispartofHepatology International
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.rightsCreative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License
dc.rightsThe original publication is available at www.springerlink.com
dc.subjectFibroscan
dc.subjectLiver fibrosis
dc.subjectNoninvasive
dc.titleThe use of transient elastography in the management of chronic hepatitis B
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong