Yusuf Yilmaz1, Rabia Ergelen, Hakan Akin, Nese Imeryuz. 1. Departments of aGastroenterology bRadiology, School of Medicine cInstitute of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although ultrasound is a useful technique for detecting hepatic steatosis, it cannot provide a precise determination of hepatic fat content. A novel attenuation parameter named controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been developed to process the raw ultrasonic signals acquired by Fibroscan. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of hepatic steatosis in apparently healthy Turkish individuals using the proposed diagnostic cut-off points for CAP. In addition, we sought to investigate the association of CAP with the traditional risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a screening setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, 102 Turkish individuals without evidence of fatty liver on ultrasound and normal aminotransferase levels underwent CAP measurements by means of Fibroscan. RESULTS: The mean (SD), median (minimum-maximum), and 5th and 95th percentile values of CAP values in this cohort of 102 individuals were 206.99 (48.12), 210.5 (100.0-314.0), 113.4 and 280.2 dB/m, respectively. Using the cut-offs of 222, 238, and 283 dB/m for CAP, there were 39 (38.2%), 23 (22.5%), and five (4.9%) individuals out of 102 who had at least 10% steatosis despite normal liver findings on ultrasound. After allowance for potential confounders, CAP was independently associated with BMI (β=0.39, t=3.5, P<0.001) and the number of metabolic syndrome criteria (β=0.24, t=2.1, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results hold promise for early noninvasive detection of hepatic steatosis on the basis of CAP assessment.
OBJECTIVE: Although ultrasound is a useful technique for detecting hepatic steatosis, it cannot provide a precise determination of hepatic fat content. A novel attenuation parameter named controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been developed to process the raw ultrasonic signals acquired by Fibroscan. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of hepatic steatosis in apparently healthy Turkish individuals using the proposed diagnostic cut-off points for CAP. In addition, we sought to investigate the association of CAP with the traditional risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a screening setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, 102 Turkish individuals without evidence of fatty liver on ultrasound and normal aminotransferase levels underwent CAP measurements by means of Fibroscan. RESULTS: The mean (SD), median (minimum-maximum), and 5th and 95th percentile values of CAP values in this cohort of 102 individuals were 206.99 (48.12), 210.5 (100.0-314.0), 113.4 and 280.2 dB/m, respectively. Using the cut-offs of 222, 238, and 283 dB/m for CAP, there were 39 (38.2%), 23 (22.5%), and five (4.9%) individuals out of 102 who had at least 10% steatosis despite normal liver findings on ultrasound. After allowance for potential confounders, CAP was independently associated with BMI (β=0.39, t=3.5, P<0.001) and the number of metabolic syndrome criteria (β=0.24, t=2.1, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results hold promise for early noninvasive detection of hepatic steatosis on the basis of CAP assessment.
Authors: Young Eun Chon; Kyu Sik Jung; Kwang Joon Kim; Dong Jin Joo; Beom Kyung Kim; Jun Yong Park; Do Young Kim; Sang Hoon Ahn; Kwang-Hyub Han; Seung Up Kim Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2014-08-14 Impact factor: 3.199