OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of transient elastography in early prognosis of patients after liver transplantation.

METHODSForty-three patients receiving orthotopic liver transplant in our hospital during December 2013 and March 2014 were included in this study. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was performed by FibroScan on day 1 (LSM-1) and day 7 (LSM-7) after transplantation. Patients were divided into higher LSM group (LSM>16 kPa) and lower LSM group (LSM<16 kPa). Clinical data and laboratory data were collected and the correlation of LSM with liver and renal function was analyzed.

RESULTSThe number of cases in higher LSM-1, lower LSM-7, higher LSM-7 and lower LSM-7 were 29, 11, 31 and 9, respectively. The cold ischemia time was corrected with LSM-7 (r=0.335, P=0.028), but not with LSM-1 (r=0.037, P=0.812); the length of ICU stay was positively correlated with LSM-1 (r=0.488, P=0.001), but not with LSM-7 (r=0.213, P=0.181). LSM was positively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, bile acid and creatinine levels. The higher LSM-1 group had longer length of ICU and hospital stay than lower LSM-1 group did (9d vs 7d, P=0.013; 34d vs 23d, P=0.023); and the higher LSM-1 group had higher incidence rate of serious complications than lower LSM-1 group did (78.57% vs 27.59%, P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONThe LSM correlates with the liver function and renal function of liver transplantation recipients, and may have value for assessing early prognosis.