Routine Liver Elastography Could Predict Actuarial Survival after Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Background & Aims: Transient elastography (TE) has routinely been implemented in the diagnosis and assessment of chronic liver disease. Little data are available in the post liver transplant (LTx) setting.

Methods: Three months after LTx, we performed TE in 137 liver transplant recipients and investigated its predictive value upon further clinical outcome. The mean follow-up time for clinical outcome was 24 months.

Results: Mean TE value was 10.6 kPa (± 6.3 kPa; range 2.8 – 29.9 kPa). There was a significant correlation between TE and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p=0.004), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p=0.031) and bilirubin (p<0.001) serum levels. In Cox univariate analysis, TE served as a predictor of actuarial survival free of liver transplantation (OR=1.111, 95%CI: 1.051–1.174; p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, TE remained an independent risk factor associated with reduced actuarial survival free of liver transplantation (OR=1.080, 95%CI: 1.001–1.166; p=0.047), along with thrombocytes (OR=0.992, 95%CI: 0.986–0.999; p=0.020) and metabolic co-disease (OR = 0.250, 95%CI: 0.070–0.895; p=0.033).

Conclusion: Transient elastography measurement at three months after LTx seems a robust predictor of survival in liver transplant recipients.