title: Non-invasive liver elastography (Fibroscan) for detection of cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease (CFLD) is the second cause of mortality in CF. The prevalence is estimated to be 26-45%, but sensitive diagnostic tools are lacking. We investigated whether non-invasive liver elastography (Fibroscan) could serve as a screening tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fibroscan measurements were performed in 66 CF patients. Age-specific cutoff values were determined in a control population (n=59). The measurements were compared to clinical data, bi-yearly biochemistry and ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fibroscan was easy to perform in this patient population. There were 14 patients (21%) with abnormal liver stiffness measurements. Liver stiffness was significantly increased in patients with clinical CFLD (11.2 kPa versus 5.1 kPa), biochemical CFLD (7.4 kPa versus 5.4 kPa) or ultrasonographical CFLD (8.2 versus 4.3 kPa) (p<0.02 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fibroscan is an objective measure and is easy to perform in CF patients, even in children and could provide a valuable tool to detect, and quantify CFLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Peter.witters@gmail.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Witters
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Boeck
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: Marijke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Proesmans
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Servaes
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verslype
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Laleman
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nevens
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cassiman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015995:Prevalence; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography