Correlation Between Real-Time Shear Wave Elastography and Liver Serum Markers in Determining the Stage of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Non-invasive methods aim to predict the stage of liver fibrosis in line with histological findings via biopsy. Shear wave elastography and serum markers are proven as accurate non-invasive methods for determining liver fibrosis as a modern non-invasive methods compared to liver biopsy in staging hepatic fibrosis. Aims: This study aims to determine the correlation between Shear Wave Elastography and indirect and direct serum markers of fibrosis when staging liver fibrosis. Material and methods: The study was conducted in the Clinic of Gastroenterohepatology, the Institute of Immunology and Human Genetics, and the Institute of Pathology between 2021 and 2023. The study comprises 70 patients with liver lesions, diagnosed based on clinical results, laboratory tests, and ultra-sound imaging. All patients underwent liver biopsy, classified according to Ishak and Metavir score as a reference method for diagnosing liver fibrosis. Real-time shear wave elastography was also performed as a non-invasive method and serum markers were checked for liver fibrosis. Findings: The statistical analysis indicated a positive correlation between the values of direct and indirect liver fibrosis markers and Shear Wave Elastography results. Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated that shear wave elastography has a significant positive correlation with biochemical markers of liver lesions and serum markers of liver fibrosis, whereas it has a negative correlation with platelets.