title: Relationship between hepatic haemodynamics assessed by Doppler ultrasound and liver stiffness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested the relationship between hepatic haemodynamics assessed by Doppler ultrasonography and liver stiffness assessed by Transient Elastography in hepatitis C related chronic liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three liver Doppler ultrasound parameters (hepatic artery resistance index, splenic artery resistance index and waveform pattern in hepatic veins) and liver stiffness measured by Transient Elastography were analysed in one hundred consecutive patients affected by hepatitis C related chronic liver disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatic and splenic arteries resistance indexes correlate significantly (p<0.0001 for both) with liver stiffness. A hepatic artery resistance index cut-off value of 0.64 provided sensitivity and specificity respectively of 84.4% and 69.1% for predicting liver stiffness ≤or >13 kPa, whereas a splenic artery resistance index cut-off value of 0.56 provided sensitivity and specificity respectively of 81.3% and 48.5%. The coincidental finding of both resistance indexes above the respective cut-off values showed a good accuracy in identifying patients with liver stiffness values >13 kPa (accuracy=78%, +LR=2.90, -LR=0.31). A significant difference in liver stiffness values was evident between patients with triphasic and bi- or monophasic waveform pattern (p=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic and splenic arteries resistance indexes and the hepatic veins waveform pattern assessed by Doppler ultrasound may provide information similar to that of Transient Elastography in hepatitis C related chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Disease and Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colecchia
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li Bassi
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montrone
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Donato
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crespi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Festi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreone
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bolondi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D055815:Young Adult