Clinical research of fibroscan ‒ TE-CAP at noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic steatosis in children

Abstract

Background & aims: The authors assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Transient Elastography-Controlled Attenuation Parameter (TE-CAP) in children of Southern China. Methods: 105 obese or overweight children and adolescents were enrolled in the diagnostic test of TE-CAP assessment of hepatic steatosis using MRI-PDFF. Hepatic steatosis grades S0-S3 were classified. Statistical correlation, agreement and consistency between methods were evaluated. The diagnostic efficiency of TE-CAP was evaluated. The authors used the cutoff value of TE-CAP to detect hepatic steatosis in another 356 children. Results: The Area Under Curve (AUC) of TE-CAP for grade ≥ S1, ≥ S2, and ≥ S3 steatosis were 0.975, 0.984, and 0.997, respectively. For detecting ≥ S1 steatosis, TE-CAP had a sensitivity of 96 % and a specificity of 97%. For detecting ≥ S2 steatosis, TE-CAP had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 93%. For detecting ≥ S3 steatosis, TE-CAP had a sensitivity of 1 and a specificity of 94%. TE-CAP and MRI-PDFF had a linear correlation (r = 0. 0.87, p < 0.001). The hepatic steatosis was identified in 40.2 % (143/356) of children in which the obesity and overweight were 69.8% (113/162) and 40.0% (18/45). Conclusion: TE-CAP showed excellent diagnostic accuracy in pediatric hepatic steatosis.