Figure 1.
In vivo liver stiffness and serum biomarkers measurements. (A) Ultrasonographic grading of liver steatosis (upper figures) and corresponding average shear wave velocity (lower graphs, red bars). Ctrl (absent/mild steatosis): a normal liver echogenicity or isolate finding of liver echogenicity brighter than the renal cortex; MLSt (moderate steatosis): liver echogenicity brighter than the renal cortex, associated with hepatic and/or portal venous margin blurring (arrows); SLSt (severe steatosis): additional presence of diaphragmatic ultrasound wave attenuation. Asterisks indicate significantly higher average shear wave velocity values in moderate and severe steatosis, as compared with normal/mild steatosis (ANOVA followed by Fisher’s LSD Multiple-Comparison test). (B) Linear regression analysis between Body Mass Index (Kg/m2) and acoustic radiation force impulse shear wave velocity (a value directly proportional to local tissue stiffness), measured in a group of 60 adults. R = 0.46, p = 0.0003.