Feasibility of liver transient elastography with FibroScan using a new probe for obese patients.
OBJECTIVE
Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) failure when using transient elastography occurs in 2-10% of patients, and is generally related to obesity. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the feasibility of LSM when using a new XL probe on patients with a body mass index (BMI) > or =30 kg/m(2).


METHODS
For each patient, LSM was performed using both M probe (currently available and dedicated to patients with standard morphology) and XL probe (dedicated to overweighed patients). A blood sample was taken to assess usual biological variables and simple readily available fibrosis blood tests.


RESULTS
Ninety-nine patients were included (27 men, mean age 52 years, mean BMI 40.5 kg/m(2)). LSM was successful (10 valid measurements) in 45% of the cases with the M probe, vs 76% of the cases with the XL probe (P<0.001). Fifty-nine percent of those who could not be measured (<10 valid measurements) using the M probe could successfully be measured using the XL probe. In the 44 patients successfully measured with both probes, LSM was correlated with the platelet count, prothrombin time, gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, fasting glucose, AST platelet ratio index, Forns score and FIB-4.


CONCLUSIONS
The new XL probe allows providing a higher rate of LSM than the M probe in patients with an increased BMI and shows promising results for the evaluation of liver fibrosis.
de Lédinghen
Victor
V
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, Pessac, France. victor.deledinghen@chu-bordeaux.fr
Vergniol
Julien
J
Foucher
Juliette
J
El-Hajbi
Farid
F
Merrouche
Wassil
W
Rigalleau
Vincent
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers