title: New combined parameter of liver and splenic stiffness as determined by elastography in healthy volunteers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnosis of chronic liver disease (CLD) leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension had witnessed dramatic changes after the introduction of noninvasive figure accessible tools over the past few years. Imaging techniques that are based on evaluation of the liver stiffness was particularly useful in this respect. Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) emerged as an interesting figure tool with reliable repute and high precision.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and splenic stiffness measurement (SSM) in healthy volunteers as concluded by the ARFI technique and to out a numeric calculated ratio that may reflect their correlation in the otherwise healthy liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  A ratio (splenic stiffness/liver stiffness in kPa) was determined in 207 consenting healthy subjects and was investigated with respect to age, gender, ethnic origin, body mass index (BMI), liver and spleen sizes healthy volunteers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), platelet count (PLT), APRI, and FIB-4 scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from this work led to computing an index of 4.72 (3.42-7.33) in healthy persons on an average. Females had a higher index than males 6.37 vs 4.92, P=0.002. There was not any significant difference of the ratio in different age groups; ethnic origins; any correlation between SSM/LSM ratio and BMI; liver and spleen sizes; or ALT, AST, PLT, APRI, and FIB-4 scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A quantifiable numeric relationship between splenic and liver stiffness in the healthy subjects could be computed to a parameter expressed as SSM/LSM ratio. We believe that this ratio can be a useful reference tool for further researches in CLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Diseases, Semey State Medical University, Republic of Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kassym
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, MNC Center, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nounou
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Diseases, Semey State Medical University, Republic of Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Zauresh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhumadilova
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, ADSC Center, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Asad I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Dajani
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Diseases, Semey State Medical University, Republic of Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Nurgul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barkibayeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Semey State Medical University, Republic of Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Ayan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Myssayev
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Semey State Medical University, Republic of Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Tolebay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rakhypbekov
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, AMC Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Adnan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abuhammour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase