The performance of M and XL probes of FibroScan for the diagnosis of steatosis and fibrosis on a Brazilian nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cohort

Abstract

Recently, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) was incorporated for XL probe. However, its performance through M and XL probes has been scarcely evaluated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The performance of probes regarding transient elastography by Fibroscan is still under debate. Aim Compare the performance of CAP and transient elastography in NAFLD patients obtained through XL with M probes using histological analysis as gold standard. Methods NAFLD patients underwent liver biopsy and FibroScan/CAP with M and XL probes the same day. C-statistic evaluated CAP performance in the identification of moderate/severe (≥33%) and severe (≥66%) steatosis by both probes and transient elastography performance for identification of significant fibrosis (≥F2). Results Eighty-one patients (74% female; age 54.2 ± 9.9 years; BMI 32.8 ± 5.2/ BMI ≥ 25 92.6%; 96% metabolic syndrome; 60% diabetes mellitus) were included. Mean CAP with M and XL probes was 314 ± 39 and 325 ± 47 dB/m, respectively. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of the M and XL probes for steatosis detection ≥33% were 0.75 (0.64–0.84) and 0.76 (0.65–0.84) (P = 0.95) and for steatosis ≥66% 0.83 (0.73–0.90) and 0.82 (0.71–0.89) (P = 0.73), respectively, with similar performances for both degrees of steatosis. Regarding transient elastography, AUROCs of M and XL probes for ≥F2 were 0.82 (0.71–0.93) and 0.80 (0.69–0.92) (P = 0.66). Conclusion Performance of M and XL probes is similar for the diagnosis of moderate and severe steatosis and significant fibrosis even on a overweight population with NAFLD. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020: 231–238 Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.