Transient elastography evaluation of hepatic and spleen stiffness in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

BACKGROUNDHepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HES) has not been evaluated by transient elastography so far and its correlation with ultrasound variables remains to be defined. AIMSThe aim of this study was to describe the parameters of liver and spleen stiffness in HES assessed by transient elastography in comparison with cirrhotics and controls evaluating its correlation with ultrasonographic data. PATIENTS AND METHODSHES, hepatitis C virus-cirrhotic, and control patients were included in this sectional study. Liver and spleen stiffness were compared among the three groups. The ultrasonographic parameters were compared with transient elastography in HES patients. RESULTSThirty HES, 30 hepatitis C virus-cirrhotic patients, and 17 controls were included. Those with HES presented liver stiffness that was significantly higher than the controls and lower than the cirrhotics9.7 (3.6–75.0) versus 3.7 (2.8–5.4) versus 27.0 (14.7–61.5) kPa (P