Background And Aim: Splenomegaly in a common finding in liver cirrhosis that should determine changes in the spleen's density because of portal and splenic congestion and/or because of tissue hyperplasia and fibrosis. These changes might be quantified by elastography, so the aim of the study was to investigate whether spleen stiffness measured by transient elastography varies as liver disease progresses and whether this would be a suitable method for the noninvasive evaluation of the presence of esophageal varices.
Patients And Methods: One hundred and ninety-one patients (135 liver cirrhosis, 39 chronic hepatitis and 17 healthy controls) were evaluated by transient elastography for measurements of spleen and liver stiffness. Cirrhotic patients also underwent upper endoscopy for the diagnosis of esophageal varices.
Results: Spleen stiffness showed higher values in liver cirrhosis patients as compared with chronic hepatitis and with controls: 60.96 vs 34.49 vs 22.01 KPa (P<0.0001). In the case of liver cirrhosis, spleen stiffness was significantly higher in patients with varices as compared with those without (63.69 vs 47.78 KPa, P<0.0001), 52.5 KPa being the best cut-off value, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.74. Using both liver and spleen stiffness measurement we correctly predicted the presence of esophageal varices with 89.95% diagnostic accuracy.
Conclusion: Spleen stiffness can be assessed using transient elastography, its value increasing as the liver disease progresses. In liver cirrhosis patients spleen stiffness can predict the presence, but not the grade of esophageal varices. Esophageal varices' presence can be better predicted if both spleen and liver stiffness measurements are used.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2010.06325.x | DOI Listing |
Biomark Med
January 2025
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Objective: The prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) combined with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was evaluated for hepatitis B virus-associated decompensated cirrhosis (HBV-DeCi).
Methods: The 30-day mortality of 166 hBV-DeCi patients was examined. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and multivariate regression analysis were used to assess the performance of NLR for prediction of poor outcomes.
Int J Biol Sci
January 2025
CAMS Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Research, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
Although therapies based on direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) effectively eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients, there is still a high risk of liver fibrosis even after a sustained virological response. Therefore, it is of great clinical importance to understand the mechanism of potential factors that promote liver fibrosis after virological cure by treatment with DAAs. Here, we found that tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1) is significantly increased in HCV-infected hepatocytes and in the liver of patients with liver fibrosis, and that higher TINAGL1 expression persists in HCV-eradicated hepatocytes after treatment with DAAs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Sci
January 2025
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
As a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, fibrosis is the common pathway of various chronic inflammatory diseases in organs and causes death in a large number of patients. It can destroy the structure and function of organs and ultimately lead to organ failure, which is a major cause of disability and death in many diseases. However, the regulatory mechanism of organ fibrosis is not well clear and the lack of effective drugs and treatments, which seriously endangers human health and safety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
January 2025
Genetics Clinic, Karaiskakio Foundation, Nicosia, CYP.
Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the Western world. MASLD-associated cirrhosis prevalence is on the rise along with the obesity and metabolic syndrome epidemic. Genetic factors are included in the multi-hit model of MASLD pathogenesis and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has an important role.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Case Rep
January 2025
Cardiac Surgery Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Introduction: Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition resulting from fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac, leading to decreased cardiac output and shock. Various etiologies can cause cardiac tamponade, including liver cirrhosis, which may be induced by autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory liver disease characterized by interface hepatitis, elevated transaminase levels, autoantibodies, and increased immunoglobulin G levels.
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