title: Effect of detoxification on liver stiffness assessed by Fibroscan® in alcoholic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to determine whether alcohol consumption or cessation influences transient elastography (TE) measurements and whether TE is a useful tool to monitor alcoholic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three consecutive heavy drinkers (20 men and 3 women; mean age 47.2 years) admitted for a 7-day hospitalization for alcohol detoxification were included. On admission (D0), a detailed medical history was taken and the following laboratory tests were performed [aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), gamma glutamyltransferase (γGT), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) levels, and Fibroscan(®)]. All examinations were repeated on D8, D30, and D60. Variation in the median Fibroscan value of >20% was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 week of detoxification, the % variation in TE was -21.67 ± -27.6%. The median variation in TE between D8 and D60 was -20% in the abstinent group and 32% in the relapse group (p = 0.007). An increase in proportion of patients with a significant decrease in TE was observed with an increased duration of abstinence: 41.7% at D8 and 66.7% at D60. TE values were significantly correlated with ASAT, γGT, and CDT at D0 and D8, and with ASAT and γGT at D60.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TE in alcoholics is influenced by major variations in the biochemical activity of the disease. The kinetics of variation of TE suggest that this method may be useful to assess alcohol abuse and control.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire of Nice, France. gelsi.e@chu-nice.fr
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gelsi
authors.forename: Raphaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dainese
authors.forename: Régine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Truchi
authors.forename: Eugénia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariné-Barjoan
authors.forename: Rodolphe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anty
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Autuori
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burroni
authors.forename: Geoffroy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vanbiervliet
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evesque
authors.forename: Faredj
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cherikh
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013695:Temperance