Objective: To explore the clinical value of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) technique and the PGA index [prothrombin time (P), γ-glutamyl transpeptadase (GG) and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoAl)] in evaluating the degree of liver fibrosis in alcoholic patients.
Methods: A total of 64 patients with long-term alcohol history were enrolled for this study. The liver ultrasonography elasticity was examined by VTQ techniques, the VTQ value was assessed in the liver target region, and then the PGA index was calculated. According the liver biopsy biological results, a golden standard, the patients were divided into a non-fibrosis group (n=11), a fibrosis group (n=10), a significant fibrosis group (n=14) and a cirrhosis group (n=29). The diagnostic value of VTQ and PGA index were compared in alcoholic patients following the classification of liver fibrosis.
Results: The elastography VTQ values were (1.38±0.33), (1.49±0.30), (1.76±0.22) and (2.28±0.53) m/s; while the PGA indexes were 2.09±0.94, 2.30±1.06, 3.57±1.09, and 2.21±1.99 in the non-fibrosis group, the fibrosis group, the significant fibrosis group and the cirrhosis group, respectively. The VTQ value and PGA index were positively correlated with the classification of liver fibrosis (VTG: r=0.719, PGA: r=0.683; both P<0.01).
Conclusion: The alcoholic liver fibrosis can be assessed by noninvasive VTQ technology and PGA index. As a real-time ultrasound elastography technique, VTQ is more accurate than the PGA index. Combination of the two methods is helpful for early diagnosis and treatment in the patients with alcoholic liver fibrosis.
目的：探讨声触诊组织量化(virtual touch tissue quantification，VTQ)技术和由凝血酶原时间、谷氨酰转肽酶与载脂蛋白A1组成的PGA指数无创评价酒精性肝纤维化程度的临床应用价值。方法：选长期饮酒史患者64例，应用VTQ技术检测肝超声弹性，测得靶区肝VTQ值，计算PGA指数。以肝穿刺活检病理结果为金标准，将入选患者分为无明显肝纤维化组(n=11)、肝纤维化组(n=10)、明显肝纤维化组(n=14)、肝硬化组(n=29)，比较VTQ值和PGA指数对酒精性肝纤维化的诊断价值。结果：无明显肝纤维化组、肝纤维化组、明显肝纤维化组、肝硬化组的VTQ值分别为(1.38±0.33)，(1.49±0.30)，(1.76±0.22)和(2.28±0.53) m/s；PGA指数分别为2.09±0.94，2.30±1.06，3.57±1.09和5.21±1.99。两种技术测值均与肝纤维化分期存在相关，VTQ的相关系数为0.719，PGA指数的相关系数为0.683(均P<0.01)。结论：VTQ技术与PGA指数均能无创定量评价酒精性肝纤维化程度，VTQ技术作为实时超声弹性成像技术较PGA指数更准确，两种检查方法结合有助于酒精性肝纤维化的早期诊断及治疗评估。.