Value of Spleen Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Parameters in Predicting Hepatic Vein Pressure Gradient for Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

Goals: To explore dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) parameters in predicting hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) for patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Background: Noninvasive diagnosis of HVPG remains a challenge. Study: This prospective study included patients with LC undergoing hepatic vein catheterization and pressure measurement at the hospital from May 2021 to January 2023. The CEUS images (Mindray Resona R9, 1-6-MHz probe frequency; mechanical index=0.08; image depth=10 cm; focus at the lowest point of the diaphragm; dynamic range=70 dB; optimal gain; single SonoVue bolus injection) were taken for 60 seconds after injection and analyzed using VueBox. HVPG (ie, the gold standard for portal hypertension) was measured routinely by catheterization. Results: Fifty patients with LC were included in the study. The rise time ( r =0.6, P <0.01), the fall time ( r =0.7, P <0.01), the peak time ( r =0.6, P <0.01), wash-in area under the curve (AUC) ( r =0.5, P <0.01), the wash-out phase AUC ( r =0.4, P <0.01) and wash-in and wash-out phase AUC ( r =0.4, P <0.01) of the dynamic spleen CEUS were positively correlated with HVPG. The optimal fall time cutoff levels to predict HVPG ≥10 mm Hg and ≥12 mm Hg were 27.0 and 36.4 seconds, with the AUC being 0.958 and 0.941, respectively. The optimal area under the wash-in area cutoff level to predict HVPG ≥10 mm Hg and ≥12 mm Hg was 1,658,967.38 (a.u) and 4,244,015.90 (a.u), with the AUC being 0.865 and 0.877, respectively. Conclusions: The fall time and wash-in AUC obtained by dynamic CEUS may help diagnose HVPG in patients with LC without requiring invasive hepatic vein catheterization.