title: Liver/spleen volume ratio as a predictor of prognosis in primary biliary cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The course of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is determined by clinical symptoms and histological findings. The present study examined the prognostic importance of imaging parameters in PBC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The volumes of the liver and spleen of patients with PBC were assessed by computed tomography (CT). The volume ratio of liver to spleen (LV/SV ratio) was evaluated and used for further analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prognosis was significantly poorer in PBC patients with a low, rather than high, LV/SV ratio. The Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that the serum bilirubin level and the LV/SV ratio could predict the prognosis of PBC patients. In addition, the LV/SV ratio was significantly lower in patients who developed symptoms (s-PBC) than in those who remained asymptomatic (a-PBC) during the observation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LV/SV ratio is of prognostic importance in patients with PBC.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, 791-0295, Japan.
authors: Yosuke
authors: Y
authors: Murata
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Abe
authors: Yoichi
authors: Y
authors: Hiasa
authors: Nobuaki
authors: N
authors: Azemoto
authors: Teru
authors: T
authors: Kumagi
authors: Shinya
authors: S
authors: Furukawa
authors: Bunzo
authors: B
authors: Matsuura
authors: Kojiro
authors: K
authors: Michitaka
authors: Norio
authors: N
authors: Horiike
authors: Morikazu
authors: M
authors: Onji
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed