Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography–Based Parameters Predict Clinical Outcomes in Liver Transplant Recipients

• Published in: Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 22; no. 12; pp. 2424 - 2431.e4
• Main Authors: Baral, Alok, Garg, Shreya, Nguyen, Madison, Razzaq, Rehan, Ang, Audrey, Khan, Hiba, Vainer, Dylan, Patel, Vaishali, Roache, Geneva, Muthiah, Mark, Yakubu, Idris, Kumaran, Vinay, Bui, Anh T., Siddiqui, Mohammad Shadab
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2024
• Subjects: Controlled Attenuation Parameter; Liver Stiffness Measurement; Liver Transplant; Myocardial Infraction; Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography; MACE-3; CI; CAD; LSM; LT; Liver Transplant; HR; MASH; IQR; Liver Stiffness Measurement; Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography; CAP; Controlled Attenuation Parameter; VCTE; Myocardial Infraction; HCV; MI
• ISSN: 1542-3565; 1542-7714; 1542-7714
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.06.020

Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is used in clinical practice to risk-stratify liver transplant (LT) recipients; however, there are currently little data demonstrating the relationship between VCTE and clinical outcomes.
A total of 362 adult LT recipients with successful VCTE examination between 2015 and 2022 were included. Presence of advanced fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥10.5 kPa and hepatic steatosis as controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥270 dB/m. The outcomes of interest included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and graft cirrhosis using cumulative incidence analysis that accounted for the competing risks of these outcomes.
The LSM was elevated in 64 (18%) and CAP in 163 (45%) LT recipients. The baseline LSM values were similar in patients with elevated vs normal CAP values. After a median follow-up of 65 (interquartile range, 20–140) months from LT to baseline VCTE, 66 (18%) patients died, 12 (3%) developed graft cirrhosis, and 18 (5%) experienced an MI. Baseline high LSM was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–3.50; P = .02) and new onset cirrhosis (HR, 6.74; 95% CI, 2.08–21.79; P < .01). A higher CAP value was significantly and independently associated with increased risk of experiencing a MI over study follow-up (HR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.29–13.27; P = .017).
The VCTE-based parameters are associated with clinical outcomes and offer the potential to be incorporated into clinical risk-stratification strategies to improve outcomes among LT recipients.
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