title: [Clinical value of virtual touch tissue quantification and PGA index in evaluation of alcoholic liver fibrosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical value of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) technique and the PGA index [prothrombin time (P), γ-glutamyl transpeptadase (GG) and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoAl)] in evaluating the degree of liver fibrosis in alcoholic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 patients with long-term alcohol history were enrolled for this study. The liver ultrasonography elasticity was examined by VTQ techniques, the VTQ value was assessed in the liver target region, and then the PGA index was calculated. According the liver biopsy biological results, a golden standard, the patients were divided into a non-fibrosis group (n=11), a fibrosis group (n=10), a significant fibrosis group (n=14) and a cirrhosis group (n=29). The diagnostic value of VTQ and PGA index were compared in alcoholic patients following the classification of liver fibrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The elastography VTQ values were (1.38±0.33), (1.49±0.30), (1.76±0.22) and (2.28±0.53) m/s; while the PGA indexes were 2.09±0.94, 2.30±1.06, 3.57±1.09, and 2.21±1.99 in the non-fibrosis group, the fibrosis group, the significant fibrosis group and the cirrhosis group, respectively. The VTQ value and PGA index were positively correlated with the classification of liver fibrosis (VTG: r=0.719, PGA: r=0.683; both P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alcoholic liver fibrosis can be assessed by noninvasive VTQ technology and PGA index. As a real-time ultrasound elastography technique, VTQ is more accurate than the PGA index. Combination of the two methods is helpful for early diagnosis and treatment in the patients with alcoholic liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003; Department of Ultrasound, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou; Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310023, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou; Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310023, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou; Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310023, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou; Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310023, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou; Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310023, China.
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Zhelan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C505693:APOA1 protein, human; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase