Acute viral hepatitis increases liver stiffness values measured by transient elastography

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Viral Hepatitis Research

Background:

• Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is influenced by factors beyond fibrosis.
• Acute viral hepatitis presents with significant liver inflammation and elevated aminotransferases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of acute viral hepatitis on liver stiffness measurement.
• To assess the reliability of LSM in detecting fibrosis during acute liver injury.

Main Methods:

• Studied 18 patients with acute viral hepatitis.
• Performed liver stiffness measurement and aminotransferase tests at three time points during the disease course.
• Correlated liver stiffness with aminotransferase levels.

Main Results:

• Liver stiffness exceeded fibrosis/cirrhosis cutoffs at peak aminotransferase levels.
• Liver stiffness significantly decreased with falling aminotransferase levels (P < 0.0001).
• Positive correlation found between aminotransferases and LSM (r=0.53, P=0.02 for ALT; r=0.51, P=0.03 for AST).

Conclusions:

• Necroinflammatory activity significantly affects LSM in acute viral hepatitis.
• LSM is unreliable for diagnosing advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis in acute hepatitis.
• Transient elastography validation requires consideration of necroinflammation, especially in early fibrosis stages (F0-F2).