title: Liver stiffness assessed by transient elastography in patients with β thalassaemia major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted to investigate any difference in liver stiffness measurements (LSM), evaluated by transient elastography, between patients affected by β thalassaemia major, with and without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and healthy blood donors (controls). Secondary aim was to assess any correlation between transient elastography and serum ferritin, liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* or superconductive quantum interference device (SQUID) liver susceptometry values.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved three centers. Transient elastography and MRI T2* examinations were performed in all centers. SQUID liver susceptometry was performed in center1 and center2. T-test for independent data or Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse differences between two groups. Univariate Pearson's r coefficient was used to test correlations between liver stiffness measurements and all other variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a study with 119 patients and 183 controls, patients who had never been infected with HCV showed significantly higher LSMs than controls [5.7 (95% CI, 5.2-6.2) kPa vs. 4.3 (95% CI, 4.1-4.4) kPa, p < 0.0001]. A moderate correlation between LSMs and ferritin values, adjusted for gender and age, was found in patients (r = 0.49, p < 0.0001) but not in controls (r = -0.22, p = 0.6). No correlation between LSMs and MRI T2* or SQUID liver susceptometry values was observed. In conclusion, compared to controls β thalassaemia major patients had a significant increase in LSMs independently from HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraioli
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lissandrin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scudeller
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Haematology Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mabel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zicchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Immuno-ematologia e Medicina Trasfusionale, Ospedale San Martino, Oristano, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.affiliation: Department of "Medicina Diagnostica e dei Servizi", Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernuzzi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Haematology Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zecca
authors.affiliation: Immuno-ematologia e Medicina Trasfusionale, Ospedale San Martino, Oristano, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casula
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piga
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Filice
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis