Utility of real-time shear wave elastography for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection without cirrhosis: Comparison of liver fibrosis indices

Aim To clarify the diagnostic impact of liver fibrosis except for cirrhosis identified using shear wave elastography (SWE) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, and to compare the performance in diagnosing liver fibrosis among SWE and liver fibrosis indices. Methods A total of 55 CHC patients who underwent liver biopsy were analyzed. The diagnostic performance for identifying significant liver fibrosis (F2–F3) for SWE, FIB-4 index, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and Forns’ index was assessed using receiver–operator curve (ROC) analysis. Results The median SWE elasticity value, FIB-4 index, APRI and Forns’ index in the F0–F1 and F2–F3 groups were 6.3 kPa and 13.1 kPa; 1.52 and 4.45; 0.41 and 1.43; and 7.69 and 8.85, respectively (P