DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF LIVER ELASTOGRAPHY IN CHILDREN WITH β-THALASSAEMIA

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study conducted to investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound elastography of the liver in children with β-thalassaemia. The study included 50 patients aged 6– 18 years with confirmed β-thalassaemia and 20 healthy peers in the control group. Elastography was performed using a FUJIFILM Arietta 750 device. The average liver stiffness in patients with thalassaemia was 10.5±2.3 kPa, which significantly exceeded the control values (5.2±1.1 kPa; p<0.001) and corresponded to stages F2-F3 according to METAVIR. Signs of fibrosis (≥9 kPa) were detected in 72% of patients in the main group. The degree of fibrosis correlated positively with ferritin levels (r=0.68; p<0.001), the frequency of blood transfusions over the past year (r=0.55; p<0.01) and the duration of the disease, and was also associated with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Low haemoglobin was accompanied by an increase in transfusion burden and progression of fibrosis. The data obtained confirm that ultrasound elastography is a reliable, safe and reproducible non-invasive method for the early diagnosis and monitoring of liver fibrosis in children with β-thalassaemia, reducing the need for biopsy and allowing timely assessment of the risk of complications associated with iron overload.