Potential role of 2D-shear wave elastography including liver stiffness measurement and dispersion slope for management of chronic hepatitis B

Purpose: This study assessed the use of liver stiffness (LS) and dispersion slope (DS) in classifying patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) by the necessity of antiviral treatment.Methods: A retrospective review examined 249 patients with CHB (male:female, 107:142; mean age, 53±14 years) between April 2018 and March 2022. Patients for whom treatment was indicated, termed group 1, exhibited either serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase levels not exceeding five times the upper limit of normal and LS 13 kPa, or hepatitis B virus DNA 2,000 IU/mL and ALT 40 IU/L. The remaining patients comprised group 2 (treatment not required). In subgroup analysis, patients with LS 13 kPa were further examined.Results: Overall, group 1 exhibited significantly higher LS (12.64±6.76 vs. 6.31±1.67 kPa, P0.001) and DS (15.52±4.95 vs. 11.04±1.93 m/s/kHz, P0.001) than group 2. In subgroup analysis, group 1 also demonstrated significantly higher values (LS: 8.05±2.12 vs 6.31±1.67 kPa, P0.001, DS: 13.06±2.75 vs. 11.04±1.93 m/s/kHz, P0.001). The areas under the curve (AUCs) for LS and DS in group 1 were 0.855 (95% confidence interval CI, 0.80 to 0.90; P0.001) and 0.810 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.86; P0.001), respectively. In subgroup analysis, the AUCs for LS and DS in group 1 were 0.751 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.81; P0.001) and 0.711 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.77; P0.001), respectively. Within group 1, the AUCs for LS and DS did not differ significantly (P0.05).Conclusion: LS and DS assist in classifying patients with CHB by their need for antiviral treatment.