Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic review

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently re-termed as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a global health concern affecting approximately 25% of adults. Complications such as portal hypertension and variceal bleeding are critical to diagnose but...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nebyu Yonas Shanka, Chavdar S. Pavlov, Nigatu Leul Mekonnen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1459569/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832591958109847552
author Nebyu Yonas Shanka
Nebyu Yonas Shanka
Chavdar S. Pavlov
Nigatu Leul Mekonnen
author_facet Nebyu Yonas Shanka
Nebyu Yonas Shanka
Chavdar S. Pavlov
Nigatu Leul Mekonnen
author_sort Nebyu Yonas Shanka
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently re-termed as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a global health concern affecting approximately 25% of adults. Complications such as portal hypertension and variceal bleeding are critical to diagnose but challenging with traditional invasive methods like hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which are not always feasible and carry risks.ObjectivesThis systematic review aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding in patients with NAFLD/MASLD cirrhosis, comparing these methods to invasive standards.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect from January 2000 to May 2024. Studies included evaluated non-invasive diagnostic techniques for portal hypertension and variceal bleeding, compared with HVPG and EGD, focusing on adult patients with confirmed NAFLD/MASLD cirrhosis. Data extraction covered study characteristics and diagnostic accuracy metrics. The quality of studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Meta-analyses were performed using R and Python.ResultsEleven studies involving 2,707 patients met the inclusion criteria. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) via transient elastography demonstrated high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (79%) for diagnosing clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) at a 20 kPa cutoff. For severe portal hypertension (SPH), LSM had a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 85% at 25 kPa. Combining LSM with platelet count resulted in a sensitivity of 97% but lower specificity (41%) for CSPH. Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) also showed good diagnostic performance with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 75% for CSPH.ConclusionNon-invasive tests, particularly LSM and SSM, show promise in diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding in NAFLD/MASLD cirrhosis. These methods offer high sensitivity, especially in combination, supporting their use in clinical settings to potentially reduce the need for invasive procedures. Future research should aim to standardize protocols and explore additional biomarkers to further enhance diagnostic accuracy.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?, identifier CRD42024567024.
format Article
id doaj-art-8015293275f747c3b58000ff1890d79c
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-858X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-8015293275f747c3b58000ff1890d79c2025-01-22T04:11:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-01-011110.3389/fmed.2024.14595691459569Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic reviewNebyu Yonas Shanka0Nebyu Yonas Shanka1Chavdar S. Pavlov2Nigatu Leul Mekonnen3Department of Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, RussiaComprehensive Specialized Hospital, Wolaita Sodo University, Soddo, EthiopiaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Botkin Hospital, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Public Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, RussiaBackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently re-termed as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a global health concern affecting approximately 25% of adults. Complications such as portal hypertension and variceal bleeding are critical to diagnose but challenging with traditional invasive methods like hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which are not always feasible and carry risks.ObjectivesThis systematic review aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding in patients with NAFLD/MASLD cirrhosis, comparing these methods to invasive standards.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect from January 2000 to May 2024. Studies included evaluated non-invasive diagnostic techniques for portal hypertension and variceal bleeding, compared with HVPG and EGD, focusing on adult patients with confirmed NAFLD/MASLD cirrhosis. Data extraction covered study characteristics and diagnostic accuracy metrics. The quality of studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Meta-analyses were performed using R and Python.ResultsEleven studies involving 2,707 patients met the inclusion criteria. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) via transient elastography demonstrated high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (79%) for diagnosing clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) at a 20 kPa cutoff. For severe portal hypertension (SPH), LSM had a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 85% at 25 kPa. Combining LSM with platelet count resulted in a sensitivity of 97% but lower specificity (41%) for CSPH. Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) also showed good diagnostic performance with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 75% for CSPH.ConclusionNon-invasive tests, particularly LSM and SSM, show promise in diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding in NAFLD/MASLD cirrhosis. These methods offer high sensitivity, especially in combination, supporting their use in clinical settings to potentially reduce the need for invasive procedures. Future research should aim to standardize protocols and explore additional biomarkers to further enhance diagnostic accuracy.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?, identifier CRD42024567024.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1459569/fullnon-alcoholic fatty liver diseasemetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseportal hypertensionvariceal bleedingnon-invasive testsliver stiffness measurement
spellingShingle Nebyu Yonas Shanka
Nebyu Yonas Shanka
Chavdar S. Pavlov
Nigatu Leul Mekonnen
Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic review
Frontiers in Medicine
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
portal hypertension
variceal bleeding
non-invasive tests
liver stiffness measurement
title Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic review
title_full Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic review
title_fullStr Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic review
title_short Non-invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to NAFLD/MASLD: systematic review
title_sort non invasive methods for diagnosing portal hypertension and variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis secondary to nafld masld systematic review
topic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
portal hypertension
variceal bleeding
non-invasive tests
liver stiffness measurement
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1459569/full
work_keys_str_mv AT nebyuyonasshanka noninvasivemethodsfordiagnosingportalhypertensionandvaricealbleedingduetolivercirrhosissecondarytonafldmasldsystematicreview
AT nebyuyonasshanka noninvasivemethodsfordiagnosingportalhypertensionandvaricealbleedingduetolivercirrhosissecondarytonafldmasldsystematicreview
AT chavdarspavlov noninvasivemethodsfordiagnosingportalhypertensionandvaricealbleedingduetolivercirrhosissecondarytonafldmasldsystematicreview
AT nigatuleulmekonnen noninvasivemethodsfordiagnosingportalhypertensionandvaricealbleedingduetolivercirrhosissecondarytonafldmasldsystematicreview