title: Liver stiffness values in apparently healthy subjects: influence of gender and metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography is a very promising non-invasive method for the diagnosis of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases. However, studies on normal values of liver stiffness in healthy subjects are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to prospectively assess liver stiffness values in the general population and to determine potential factors, which may influence these values.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver stiffness measurements were performed in 429 consecutive apparently healthy subjects, without overt cause of liver disease and normal liver enzymes, undergoing a free medical check-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean liver stiffness value was 5.49+/-1.59 kPa. Transient elastography failure was observed in 4.6% of the cases. The failure rate increased with BMI, reaching 88% for values above 40 kg/m2. Liver stiffness values were higher in men than in women (5.81+/-1.54 vs 5.23+/-1.59 kPa, p=0.0002) and in subjects with BMI>30 kg/m2 (6.26+/-1.89 vs 5.37+/-1.51 kPa, p=0.0003). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 59 (13.7%) subjects. After adjustment for gender and BMI, liver stiffness values were higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome than in those without (6.51+/-1.64 vs 5.33+/-1.51 kPa, p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver stiffness values in the general population are influenced independently by gender, BMI and metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Hépatologie, Hopital Avicenne, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Bobigny, France. dominique.roulot@avc.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roulot
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Czernichow
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Le Clésiau
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Costes
authors.forename: Anne-Claire
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vergnaud
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beaugrand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography