title: The influence of aminotransferase levels on liver stiffness assessed by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography: a retrospective multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography is a new method for non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of elevated alanine aminotransferase levels on liver stiffness assessment by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre retrospective study including 1242 patients with chronic liver disease, who underwent liver biopsy and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse. Transient Elastography was also performed in 512 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse cut-off for predicting significant fibrosis was 1.29 m/s in cases with normal alanine aminotransferase levels and 1.44 m/s in patients with alanine aminotransferase levels>5 × the upper limit of normal. The best cut-off for predicting liver cirrhosis were 1.59 and 1.75 m/s, respectively. Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse cut-off for predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis were relatively similar in patients with normal alanine aminotransferase and in those with alanine aminotransferase levels between 1.1 and 5 × the upper limit of normal: 1.29 m/s vs. 1.36 m/s and 1.59 m/s vs. 1.57 m/s, respectively. For predicting cirrhosis, the Transient Elastography cut-offs were significantly higher in patients with alanine aminotransferase levels between 1.1 and 5 × the upper limit of normal compared to those with normal alanine aminotransferase: 12.3 kPa vs. 9.1 kPa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver stiffness values assessed by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse and Transient Elastography are influenced by high aminotransferase levels. Transient Elastography was also influenced by moderately elevated aminotransferase levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. Electronic address: bota_simona1982@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bota
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sporea
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peck-Radosavljevic
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sirli
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Hidetsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebinuma
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lupsor
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Badea
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fierbinteanu-Braticevici
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrisor
authors.forename: Mireen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedrich-Rust
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarrazin
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piscaglia
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallotti
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salzl
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Elastography; Aminotransferase levels; Liver fibrosis; Liver stiffness; Transient Elastography