Factors associated with significant liver fibrosis assessed using transient elastography in general population

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of significant liver fibrosis assessed using transient elastography(TE) and its predictors in asymptomatic general population.METHODS: A total of 159 subjects without chronic viral hepatitis who underwent comprehensive medical health check-up between January 2012 and July 2012 were prospectively recruited. Significant liver fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness value > 7.0 k Pa.RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index(BMI) of the study population(men 54.7%) was 56.0 years and 24.3 kg/m2. Among the study subjects, 11(6.9%) showed significant liver fibrosis. On univariate analysis, BMI, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, carotid intimal media thickness(IMT), number of calcified plaques on carotid ultrasound, and visceral fat area on computed tomography were significantly higher in subjects with significant liver fibrosis than in those without(all P < 0.05). However, on multivariate analysis, BMI [odds ratio(OR) =1.487; P = 0.045], ALT(OR = 1.078; P = 0.014), carotid IMT(OR = 3.244; P = 0.027), and the number of calcified carotid plaques(OR = 1.787; P = 0.031) were independent predictors of significant liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of significant liver fibrosis assessed using TE was 6.9% in apparently healthy subjects. High BMI, high ALT, thicker carotid IMT, and higher numbers of calcified carotid plaqueswere independently associated with the presence of significant liver fibrosis.

Obesity is an important determinant of severity in newly defined metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

Background: The recently proposed definition of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD) is based on the co-existence of hepatic steatosis with other metabolic disorders, including obesity and metabolic risk abnormalities such as hyperglycemia, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia. This study aimed to assess MAFLD severity according to the presence of metabolic abnormalities and obesity. Methods: Using transient elastography, hepatic steatosis and fibrosis severity were assessed by measuring the controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement. A total of 1163 patients with MAFLD were categorized into the following four groups according to metabolic risk abnormalities and obesity presence: non-obese without metabolic risk abnormality group(Group 1;reference group);nonobese with metabolic risk abnormality group(Group 2);obese without metabolic risk abnormality group(Group 3);and obese with metabolic risk abnormality group(Group 4). A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine severe hepatic steatosis and fibrosis risk in each group in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Results: In the adjusted model, the odds ratios(ORs) [95% confidence interval(CI)] for severe hepatic steatosis in Groups 2, 3, and 4 were 1.07(0.61-1.88), 2.43(1.44-4.08), and 4.07(2.56-6.48), respectively( P trend < 0.001). For liver fibrosis, compared with Group 1, Group 2 showed no significant increases in OR, whereas Groups 3 and 4(obese groups) showed significant increases(OR = 4.70, 95% CI: 1.24-17.82 and OR = 6.43, 95% CI: 1.88-22.02, respectively). Conclusions: Obesity, rather than metabolic abnormality, is the principal determinant of severe hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with MAFLD.

Placement of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent in a young patient with chronic pancreatitis

Plastic stent insertion is a treatment option for pancreatic duct stricture with chronic pancreatitis.However, recurrent stricture is a limitation after removing the plastic stent.Self-expandable metal stents have long diameters and patency.A metal stent has become an established management option for pancreatic duct stricture caused by malignancy but its use in benign stricture is still controversial.We introduce a young patient who had chronic pancreatitis and underwent several plastic stent insertions due to recurrent pancreatic duct stricture.His symptoms improved after using a fully covered self-expandable metal covered stent and there was no recurrence found at follow-up at the outpatient department.