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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Application of Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography Imaging in a Rat Model of NAFLD/NASH
Published on: April 20, 2021
Shear wave elastography and ultrasonic multi-parameter score for the identification of moderate-to-severe chronic
Li Guo1,2, Lei Ran1,2, Qiaoying Wu1,2
1Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of HeBei University, No. 212 of YuHua East Road, LianChi District, Baoding City, HeBei Province, 071000, China.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) and an ultrasonic multi-parameter score in identifying chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage ≥ III (moderate-to-severe CKD) in patients with known CKD.
Methods:
A single-centre cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 152 patients with CKD (staged I-V according to estimated glomerular filtration rate). Conventional ultrasound parameters (renal length, parenchymal thickness, echogenicity) and SWE measurements (Young's modulus [YM] in kPa) of the renal cortex and medulla were obtained. The ultrasonic multi-parameter score was calculated using a standardised rubric. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SWE cortical YM and the multi-parameter score for identifying CKD stage ≥ III.
Results:
The study included 23 patients with stage I CKD, 45 with stage II, 44 with stage III, 15 with stage IV and 25 with stage V. Shear wave elastography cortical YM (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.894) and the multi-parameter score (AUC: 0.870) showed promising discrimination for stage ≥ III CKD. Cortical YM demonstrated a specificity of 0.912 and a sensitivity of 0.671.
Conclusion:
Shear wave elastography cortical YM has high specificity, supporting its potential role in the rule-in of moderate-to-severe CKD. The ultrasonic multi-parameter score also shows clinical value for severity stratification. However, the relatively low sensitivity limits its utility for rule-out purposes.
Clinical Trial Number:
Not applicable.
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