ArticleBMC pediatrics2025
Applicability of multiple quantitative ultrasound liver biomarkers in children and adolescents with severe obesity.
Article in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundObesity is associated with chronic liver disease, which is why improved non-invasive diagnostic assessment of liver affection is desirable. The ultrasound-based biomarkers Attenuation Imaging coefficient (ATI), Shear Wave Elastography (SWE), and Shear Wave Dispersion (SWD) have the potential to assess liver steatosis, fibrosis and inflammation/oedema respectively. The aim was therefore to evaluate the feasibility of applying ultrasound-based liver biomarkers in children and adolescents with severe obesity.
methodsUltrasound was performed, before treatment, in 56 patients with childhood obesity (< 18 years) referred for bariatric surgery or treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. An ultrasound visualisation score (A: no limitations - D: severe limitations) was used. ATI, SWE and SWD were measured, irrespective of visualisation score, and compared to clinical data, serological measures and depth of measurement. Scan-rescan reproducibility measurements were performed, both for continuous measures using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and for kappa coefficient using proposed reference thresholds for elevated/pathological values in children during fasting and free-breathing: > ATI 0.56 dB/cm/MHz, > SWE 4.9 kPa and > SWD 11.9 (m/s)/kHz.
resultsThe median (min-max) age of the 56 patients (51.8% male) was 16.2 years (9.9; 18) and the median BMI standard deviation score (SDS) was 4.4 (2.7; 7.3). The distribution of the visibility score was A 5.5%, B 50%, C 41% and D 3.5%. The median (min-max) ATI, SWE and SWD values were 0.58 dB/cm/MHz (0.32; 0.97), 7.2 kPa (4.3; 19.6) and 14.3 (m/s)/kHz (8.9; 24.3) respectively. Both ATI (β = -4.2; r
conclusionWhen accounting for visualization score, multiple ultrasound liver biomarkers appear applicable in most children and adolescents with severe obesity. Median ATI, SWE and SWD values were all increased, compared to currently known paediatric normal values. However, median ATI was likely underestimated due to depth dependence of measurement. Although caution is advised in clinical decision-making due to fair-moderate reproducibility between scans, most importantly, the biomarkers appear capable of differentiating between non-affected and affected liver in children with severe obesity.
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