Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) for Fibrosis Staging in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The performance of non-invasive fibrosis markers has not been well studied in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) is a non-invasive radiological method for assessment of liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ARFI for fibrosis staging in patients with AIH.

METHODOLOGY: AIH patients who undergone for control liver biopsy after at least two years of biochemical remission period were also assessed by ARFI. Liver fibrosis was staged according to the METAVIR scoring system.

RESULTS

A total of 15 patients (13 women and 2 men) with mean age of 40.9 (18-59 years) were included in the study. Repeat liver biopsy was performed a mean of 4.9 (3-9 years) after AIH diagnosis. Nine patients had significant fibrosis scores (F ≥ 2) while, remain 6 patients had mild or no fibrosis. The mean (±SD) shear wave velocities for patients with fibrosis stage II-IV was significantly higher than those with fibrosis stage 0-I (2.28 ± 0.68 m/s and 1.20 ± 0.24, respectively, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

ARFI is able to differentiate significant from non significant liver fibrosis in patients with AIH. Our study suggests that this non-invasive method can be used for monitoring fibrosis progression in AIH.