Correlation of spleen stiffness measured by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging (ARFI) with Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) in the prediction of esophageal varices (EVs) grades in cirrhotic patients

Background: measurement of spleen stiffness (SS) by ARFI may predict the presence of EVs. Aim: To assess the correlation of SS measured by ARFI as noninvasive assessment with HVPG in the prediction of presence and grades of EVs in cirrhotic patients. Methods: 30 patients with post HCV liver cirrhosis who underwent biochemical tests, abdominal ultrasound (US) , Doppler , Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE), liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) measurements using ARFI elastography and HVPG. Results: statistically significant difference was found between EVs presence and grades in relation to HVPG. In contrary no statistically significant difference was found between EVs presence and grades in relation to SS. Conclusion: HVPG had good significant positive correlation with presence and grades of EVs. There was no significant correlation between non-invasive parameters including the SS and LS (by ARFI) and presence or grades of EVs. There was no significant correlation between HVPG and SS and LS (by ARFI).