Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-29-2020
Abstract
Background and Aim: There is no standardized guideline to screen, image, or refer patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to a specialist. In this study, we used transient elastography (TE) to examine the fibrosis stages at which patients are first diagnosed with NAFLD. Subsequently, we analyzed metabolic markers to establish cut-offs beyond which noninvasive imaging should be considered to confirm NAFLD/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis fibrosis in patients.
Methods: Charts spanning July 2015-April 2018 for 116 NAFLD patients who had TE performed were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analysis of metabolic markers was conducted.
Results: At the first hepatology visit, TE showed 73% F0-F2 and 27% F3-F4. Univariate analysis showed that high-density lipoproteins (HDL), hemoglobin A1c (A1c), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were significantly different between the F0-F2 and F3-F4 groups. Multivariate analysis showed that AST (P = 0.01) and A1c (P = 0.05) were significantly different. Optimal cut-offs for these markers to detect liver fibrosis on TE were AST >43 U/L and A1c >6.6%. The logistic regression function combining these two variables to reflect the probability (P) of the patient having advanced fibrosis (F3-F4) on TE yielded the formula: P = e R /(1 + e R ), where R = -8.56 + 0.052 * AST + 0.89 * A1c.
Conclusions: Our study suggested that >25% of patients presenting to a specialist for NAFLD may have advanced fibrosis (F3-F4). Diabetes (A1c >6.6%) and AST >43 U/L were the most predictive in identifying NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis on imaging. We proposed a formula that may be used to prioritize NAFLD patients at higher risk of having advanced fibrosis for specialist referral and imaging follow-up.
Recommended Citation
Shieh, Christine; Halegoua-De Marzio, Dina L.; Hung, Matthew L.; Fenkel, Jonathan M.; and Herrine, Steven K., "Timely diagnosis and staging of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using transient elastography and clinical parameters." (2020). Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers. Paper 75.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/gastro_hepfp/75
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
PubMed ID
33102776
Language
English
Comments
This article is the authors’ final published version in JGH Open, Volume 4, Issue 5, June 2020, Pages 1002-1006.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.12385. Copyright © Shieh et al.