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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ultrasound Int Open 2020; 06(03): E54-E61
DOI: 10.1055/a-1298-9642
Original Article

Point Shear Wave Elastography and the Effect of Physical Exercise, Alcohol Consumption, and Respiration in Healthy Adults

Victoria Taraldsen
1   Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Bergen, Norway
,
Sunneva Tomasgard
1   Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Bergen, Norway
,
Margrethe Thune Rudlang
1   Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Bergen, Norway
,
Odd Helge Gilja
1   Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Bergen, Norway
2   Haukeland University Hospital, National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Bergen, Norway
,
Mette Vesterhus
1   Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Bergen, Norway
3   Department of Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital Bergen, Norway
4   Norwegian PSC Research Center (NoPSC), Division of Surgery, Inflammatory medicine and transplantation, Oslo Universitetssykehus Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
,
Anders Batman Mjelle
1   Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Bergen, Norway
5   Department of Clinical Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Bergen, Norway
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Correction: Point Shear Wave Elastography and the Effect of Physical Exercise, Alcohol Consumption, and Respiration in Healthy AdultsUltrasound Int Open 2020; 06(03): E66-E66
DOI: 10.1055/a-1340-1260

Abstract

Purpose Ultrasound elastography is a noninvasive method for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with the aim of reflecting approximate liver fibrosis load. Despite minimal evidence, current guidelines recommend 10 min of rest and breath hold prior to measurements and offer no advice concerning recent alcohol consumption, leading to challenges in clinical practice. We aimed to investigate how LSM in healthy adults is influenced by physical exercise, recent alcohol consumption, and respiration.

Materials and Methods 42 healthy subjects aged 21–36 years were included. LSM using point shear wave elastography (pSWE) was performed in five stages: baseline, after physical activity, after registration of alcohol consumption, and during breath hold compared to free breathing.

Results LSM values were significantly increased following physical exercise compared to baseline values (4.1±0.8 vs. 3.8±0.8 kPa, p=0.01). Alcohol consumption during the last 72 h (0–27 alcohol units) did not significantly affect LSM. There was no significant difference between LSM during breath hold and free breathing.

Conclusion In healthy subjects, LSM increased after recent physical exercise, while alcohol consumption 24–72 h prior to examination did not have a significant impact. There was no clinically significant effect of breath hold on LSM. Our study supports present guidelines recommending rest prior to LSM, while indicating that breath hold may not be mandatory. Recent moderate alcohol exposure may affect LSM to a lesser extent than commonly believed.

Key words

Shear wave elastography - Physical exertion - Alcohol consumption - Respiration - ultrasound, Methods and techniques


Publication History

Received: 28 April 2020
Received: 17 August 2020

Accepted: 26 October 2020

Article published online:
08 December 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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