The attenuation coefficient could be a noninvasive index to evaluate liver stenosis in children and adolescents with Wilson disease (WD), according to a new study published in the journal BMC Medical Imaging. The attenuation coefficient together with the aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, fibrosis 4 scores, and shear wave measurement could have even better diagnostic efficacy.
To assess whether the attenuation coefficient can help assess liver involvement in children and adolescents with WD, a team of researchers from China retrospectively analyzed 62 children and adolescents with the disease.
The researchers grouped liver involvement among the patients into 3 based on the levels of collagen type IV, hyaluronic acid, laminin, and pre-collagen type III N-terminal peptide in their serum. They then compared the attenuation coefficient, aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, fibrosis 4 scores, and shear wave measurement between the 3 groups.
The results showed that the attenuation coefficient was significantly different between the 3 groups and the sensitivity of the attenuation coefficient for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis in the first group compared to the second group was 89.47%.
Read more about the complications of WD
There was no significant correlation between the attenuation coefficient and triglycerides.
Compared to the attenuation coefficient only, the combination of the attenuation coefficient, aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, and fibrosis 4 score or the combination of attenuation coefficient, shear wave measurement, aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, and fibrosis 4 score had better diagnostic efficacy in the first group compared to the second group.
“In summary, the [attenuation coefficient] technique can be used for the noninvasive evaluation of early liver steatosis in children and adolescents with WD and has a high diagnostic efficacy,” the researchers wrote.
WD is a rare genetic disease affecting copper metabolism. It leads to excessive copper deposition especially in the liver, brain, and eyes, causing damage.
Reference
Wang J, Wang J, Wang H, et al. Application of attenuation coefficient in the assessment of hepatic involvement in children and adolescents with Wilson’s disease. BMC Med Imaging. 2023;4;23(1):24. doi:10.1186/s12880-023-00979-7
