[Liver functional test (LFT) and ultrasound (US) usefulness in the diagnostic of non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH)].
Year: 2006
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Liver Functional Test (LFT) and hepatic ultrasound (US) usefulness in the diagnostic of NASH. BACKGROUND: NASH is part of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), this condition can lead to cirrhosis; it is associated with others frequents diseases in Mexico such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Unfortunately the diagnosis of NASH is not easy, since it must be confirmed by an hepatic biopsy and this requisite can conditionate a subnormal register. Until now, we don't have programs oriented to detect this disease; even though several high risk populations have been identified. METHODS: We compared the results of LFT and hepatic US often patients with NASH and ten healthy volunteers. Both groups where matched; the sensibility (S), specificity (Sp) and predictive values (PV) of each test were established. Student t test was used in the statistic analysis. RESULTS: The tests with the most notable difference were aminotransferases (AST, ALT), indirect billirubin (IB) and the US; with S of 100% to IB and US; Sp 100% to aminotransferases; PV+ 100% to ALT and AST, and 71% to US; and PV- 100% to IB and US. CONCLUSIONS: LFT and US are useful to detect NASH, the periodic testing of subjects with type 2 diabetes and overweight in risk of NASH is proposed as an effective tool of detection for the cases that require a subsequent study by a gastroenterologist.
Source: PubMed
Authors: Raúl Bernal-Reyes, Daniel Bernal-Serrano
Language: Spanish
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2266406374