Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2014; 20(5): 1289-1297
Published online Feb 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i5.1289
Factors correlating with acoustic radiation force impulse elastography in chronic hepatitis C
Toru Nishikawa, Senju Hashimoto, Naoto Kawabe, Masao Harata, Yoshifumi Nitta, Michihito Murao, Takuji Nakano, Yuko Mizuno, Hiroaki Shimazaki, Toshiki Kan, Kazunori Nakaoka, Yuka Takagawa, Masashi Ohki, Naohiro Ichino, Keisuke Osakabe, Kentaro Yoshioka
Toru Nishikawa, Senju Hashimoto, Naoto Kawabe, Masao Harata, Yoshifumi Nitta, Michihito Murao, Takuji Nakano, Yuko Mizuno, Hiroaki Shimazaki, Toshiki Kan, Kazunori Nakaoka, Yuka Takagawa, Masashi Ohki, Kentaro Yoshioka, Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
Naohiro Ichino, Keisuke Osakabe, Faculty of Medical Technology, School of Health Sciences, Fujita Health University, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this work.
Supported by MEXT-Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities of the Japanese Government; and by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of the Japanese Government
Correspondence to: Kentaro Yoshioka, MD, Department of Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas Diseases, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan. kyoshiok@fujita-hu.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-562-932324 Fax: +81-562-938601
Received: August 19, 2013
Revised: September 28, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: February 7, 2014
Processing time: 185 Days and 4.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The assessment of liver fibrosis stage is important to estimate prognosis and to identify the patients requiring antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C. Liver biopsy is a gold standard for assessing fibrosis, but is invasive. Thus methods for noninvasively assessing fibrosis have been developed. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by Fibroscan and acoustic radiation force impulse correlate with fibrosis stage. However, LSM may be affected by factors other than fibrosis, such as edema, steatosis, and inflammation.