Liver/spleen volume ratio as a predictor of prognosis in primary biliary cirrhosis.
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.
Murata
Yosuke
Y
Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, 791-0295, Japan.
Abe
Masanori
M
Hiasa
Yoichi
Y
Azemoto
Nobuaki
N
Kumagi
Teru
T
Furukawa
Shinya
S
Matsuura
Bunzo
B
Michitaka
Kojiro
K
Horiike
Norio
N
Onji
Morikazu
M
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