Research Article

Assessment of Steatosis and Fibrosis in Liver Transplant Recipients Using Controlled Attenuation Parameter and Liver Stiffness Measurements

Table 5

Comparison of groups with and without moderate fibrosis.

VariablesModerate fibrosis, N  = 96No moderate fibrosis, N  = 81 value

Age at LT, years (IQR)55 (46–60)56 (49–62)0.288
Age at TE, years (IQR)61 (53–64)60 (53–66)0.818
Donor age, years57 (44–68)60 (44–67)0.971
Male, % (n)68.1 (64)68.7 (55)0.945

Cause of liver disease, % (n)
 Autoimmune liver disease8.3 (8)14.8 (12)0.280
 NAFLD01.2 (1)
 Alcoholic liver disease36.5 (35)27.2 (22)
 HCV2.1 (2)4.9 (4)
 Others53.1 (51)51.9 (42)

BMI, kg/m2 (IQR)28.4 (24–32)27.5 (23–32)0.870

BMI category, % (n)
 Normal <2535.4 (34)38.3 (31)0.737
 Overweight 25–29.932.3 (31)23.4 (19)
 Obese ≥3032.3 (31)38.3 (31)

Donors BMI, kg/m2 (IQR)26.3 (25–29)26 (23–28)0.132

Donors BMI category, % (n)
 Normal <2531.2 (30)44.4 (36)0.105
 Overweight 25–29.955.2 (53)39.5 (32)
 Obese ≥3013.5 (13)16.0 (13)

Hypertension, % (n)72.9 (70)55.6 (45)0.024
Diabetes, % (n)41.7 (40)35.8 (29)0.521
Thrombocytes x109/L161 (129–221)170 (139–219)0.540
Glucose, mmol/L (IQR)6.3 (5–8)6 (5.4–6.9)0.152
Total bilirubin, mg/dL (IQR)17 (12–24)15 (11–19)0.173
ALT, U/L (IQR)31 (23–49)24 (17–33)<0.001
AST, U/L (IQR)31 (23–48)26 (21–34)0.001
GGT, U/L (IQR)53 (28–127)29 (17–43)<0.001
Triglyceride, mmol/L (IQR)1.32 (1–1.9)1.16 (0.9–1.7)0.095
Total cholesterol, mmol/L (IQR)5.1 (4.4–5.7)5.2 (4.5–6.1)0.572
LDL, mmol/L (IQR)3 (2.4–3.5)3.2 (2.5–3.8)0.133
HDL, mmol/L (IQR)1.3 (1.1–1.6)1.3 (1.1–1.6)0.692
CRP, mg/L (IQR)3.3 (2–6)3.1 (1.9–5.8)0.892
CAP, dB (IQR)298 (250–334)267 (203–310)0.004

Immunosuppression, % (n)
 Tacrolimus62.5 (60)80.2 (65)0.016
 Cyclosporine37.2 (35)21.5 (17)
 Prednisone5.2 (5)3.7 (3)
 mTOR inhibitor1.0 (1)(0)
 Mycophenolate mofetil74.0 (71)61.7 (50)
 Azathioprine1.0 (1)2.5 (2)

Time from LT to TE, years (IQR)5 (3–6)3 (2–5)0.008

LT, liver transplantation; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; HCV, hepatitis C virus infection; BMI, body mass index; AST, serum aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transferase; CRP, C-reactive protein; CAP, controlled attenuation parameter; TE, transient elastography.