title: Close correlation of liver stiffness with collagen deposition and presence of myofibroblasts in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transient elastography is known as a rapid, objective, and highly reliable technique for staging hepatic fibrosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection; however, the relationship between degree of fibrosis and the collagen deposition or the accumulation of myofibroblasts in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains to be further elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 36 patients with NAFLD who received liver biopsy and liver stiffness measurement using transient elastography. Their clinical data and laboratory values were collected. Morphometric analyses of liver fibrosis indicated by collagen deposition and the relative numbers of myofibroblasts were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver stiffness measured by transient elastography correlated with histopathological fibrosis staging of NAFLD determined by Brunt's scoring system (P = 0.000149). The fibrosis staging correlated with the ratios of the Sirius red-positive area (P = 0.000032) and α-smooth muscle actin-positive area (P = 0.000898). Finally, liver stiffness significantly correlated with the ratios of the Sirius red-positive area (r = 0.390, P = 0.0184) and α-smooth muscle actin-positive area (r = 0.333, P = 0.0471).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography is valuable for evaluating fibrotic progression in NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University Central Clinical Laboratory, Osaka City University Medical School Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Sawako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamori
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawada