Influence of meal intake on liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transient elastography (TE) is a non-invasive test for evaluation of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Meal intake has been found to affect liver stiffness (LS) values in CHC patients, but there is still lack of data in CHB patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the influence of meal intake on LS values by TE in non-cirrhotic CHB patients and compare its effect with non-cirrhotic CHC patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty-five CHB patients and 37 CHC patients were included LS measurements by TE were done at three different times including 4-hour fasting immediately, and 60 minutes after finishing 500 kcal meal. RESULTS: Mean fasting LS values in CHB patients were 5.40--1.7 kPa. LS values in CHB patients significantly increased at both immediately and 60 minutes after finishing meal by 0.31?0.1 kPa (p = 0.035) and 0.33 +/- 0.1 kPa (p = 0.018), respectively Difference in the peak changes of LS values after meal were not significant between CHB and CHC patients (CHB 0.72 +/- 0.1 vs. CHC 1.16 +/- 0.1, p = 0.076). No other variables associated with the changes ofLS values after meal in either CHB patients or CHC patients. CONCLUSION: Meal intake significantly increases LS values in CHB and CHC patients. It was considered to be a confounding factor in LS measurements. An appropriate time offasting should be done before LS measurement in both CHB and CHC patients.