Application values of shear wave elastography and ultrasonic grading in liver grafts from brain death donor

Objective To explore the values of shear wave elastography (SWE) and ultrasonic grading in liver grafts from brain death donor (DBD). Methods Liver grafts of 39 DBD cases were examined preoperatively by ultrasonography (US) and SWE. Blood samples were tested preoperatively. Based upon early allograft function of liver recipients, the donors were classified into early allograft dysfunction (EAD) and early allograft function normal (non-EAD) groups. The SWE/US grading results of EAD group were compared with those of non-EAD group. Receiver operating curve (ROC) was employed for analyzing the diagnostic accuracy of SWE/US grading in EAD. Results The SWE value of EAD group was significantly higher than that of non-EAD group [(6.65±2.69) vs. (3.50±1.27) kPa, P<0.05]. Ultrasonic grading of EAD group was also significantly higher than that of non-EAD group (P<0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUROC) of SWE in EAD was 0.939, optimal cut-off value 4.56 kPa, AUROC of ultrasonic grading 0.806 (P=0.003) and optimal cut-off value level 3.5. Conclusions SWE quantifies fibrosis in liver grafts of DBD with a high diagnostic accuracy. There are significant correlations between EAD after liver transplantation and SWE value of liver grafts and ultrasonic grading. SWE and ultrasonic grading may improve the assessments of liver grafts of DBD. Key words: Liver Transplantation; Ultrasonography; Recovery of function