Dynamics of the Liver Stiffness Value Using Transient Elastography during the Perioperative Period in Patients with Valvular Heart Disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver congestion due to heart failure in patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) can result in an overestimate of the liver stiffness (LS) as assessed by transient elastography (TE). This prospective pilot study investigated the dynamics of LS during the perioperative valve operation period. METHODS: Thirty-two patients who underwent a valve operation (case) and 12 who underwent a varicose vein operation (control) were prospectively enrolled. LS and cardiologic parameters at three time points baseline, post-operative day (POD)7, and POD90 were collected. RESULTS: LS at three time points were consistently higher in the case group than those in the control group, although all participants did not show evidence of underlying chronic liver disease (all P<0.05). In the case group, LS at POD7 increased slightly from the LS at baseline (median 7.9→8.4 kPa, P = 0.816), whereas LS at POD90 decreased significantly from the LS at POD7 (median 8.4→6.0 kPa; P = 0.026). LS was significantly correlated with N-terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (ρ = 0.412), left ventricular ejection fraction (ρ = -0.494), and central venous pressure during the operation (ρ = 0.555) at baseline (all P<0.05). LS was significantly correlated with NT-proBNP (ρ = 0.526) and right ventricular pressure (ρ = 0.572) at POD7, whereas LS was significantly correlated with NT-proBNP (ρ = 0.590) at POD90 (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LS can be overestimated in patients with VHD due to hepatic congestion. However, LS can be dynamically reversed during the perioperative period reflecting the restoration of cardiac function after a successful operation.