Role of Combined Ultrasound Elastography in Evaluation the Degree of Liver Fibrosis in Children With Cholesteric Liver Disease

The prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD) among children is on the rise globally, driven by various epidemiological shifts, such as the opioid crisis contributing to hepatitis C infections and the obesity epidemic leading to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) . liver disease affects 1 in every 2,500 infants, and in 2021, children accounted for 13% of all liver transplants in the United States .

Currently, there are no effective pharmacological treatments to prevent or slow the progression of Cholestatic Liver Disease in children. As a result, it is crucial to evaluate the extent of liver fibrosis in children with cholestatic liver disease as early as possible. Early assessment is vital for delaying disease progression, decreasing the need for liver transplantation, and providing essential information for clinical decision-making when transplantation becomes necessary.

Combi-Elasto technique, which integrates elastography with other non-invasive imaging modalities, has emerged as a promising tool for evaluating liver fibrosis. This approach offers several potential benefits, including enhanced diagnostic accuracy, safety, and the ability to assess fibrosis without the need for invasive procedures. Combi-elasto (CE) integrates the benefits of both strain elastography and shear wave elastography. It uses the fibrosis index (FI), activity index (AI), and attenuation coefficient (ATT) to provide precise evaluations of fibrosis levels, inflammation activity, and fatty degeneration.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants must be aged between 0 and 18 years at the time of enrollment.
• Children must have a confirmed diagnosis of cholestatic liver disease, supported by:

• Histological confirmation via liver biopsy showing cholestasis.
• Clinical evidence of cholestasis, such as elevated alkaline phosphatase levels or conjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
• Participants should have a documented history of cholestatic liver disease for at least three months prior to enrollment to ensure that the condition is chronic and allows for adequate assessment of fibrosis progression.

Exclusion criteria

• patients without prehepatic ascites
• patients with hepatic space-occupying lesions.
• patients with other serious systemic diseases, such as heart failure, renal failure and mental illness
• patients after liver transplantation.