Dynamics of Splenic Transient Elastography in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder.

INTRODUCTION

Splenic stiffness (SS) measurement (SSM) is an evolving noninvasive assessment to evaluate portal hypertension. Studies with respect to SSM in patients with alcohol use disorder are limited.

METHODS

We studied patients seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder in an inpatient treatment protocol at the National Institutes of Health and parsed SSM into 3 groups based on degree of change.

RESULTS

The improved SS group had statistically higher initial SSM and a nonstatistically increased liver stiffness measurement compared with others.

DISCUSSION: SS is dynamic in a subset of patients immediately after alcohol cessation, and improved SS is associated with a normalization of platelet count.