%0 Journal Article
%T The XL probe: A luxury or a necessity? Risk stratification in an obese community cohort using transient elastography
%A Guruprasad P Aithal
%A I Neil Guha
%A Rebecca Harris
%A Timothy R Card
%A Toby Delahooke
%J United European Gastroenterology Journal
%@ 2050-6414
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/2050640618772944
%X Transient elastography is a non-invasive tool which can stratify patients at risk of chronic liver disease. However, a raised body mass index has been independently associated with a failed or unreliable examination. The purpose of this study was to analyse the performance of two probes (M/XL) on a portable transient elastography device within an obese community population. The method involved a prospective study with recruitment from a primary care practice. Patients identified with a risk factor for chronic liver disease were invited to a community-based risk stratification pathway for transient elastography readings with both probes. A threshold of ¡Ý8.0£¿kPa defined elevated liver stiffness. A total of 477 patients attended the pathway. Of the patients, 21% had no valid measurements with the M probe. There was a significant difference between the probes in the proportion achieving ¡Ý10 valid readings (M versus XL probe: 66.2% versus 90.2%; p£¿¡Ü£¿0.001) and in their reliability (M versus XL probe: 77.4% versus 98.5%; p£¿=£¿0.028). Unreliable readings with the M probe increased as the body mass index increased. The XL probe re-stratified 5.2% of patients to have a normal reading. The XL probe on a portable device significantly improves the applicability of transient elastography within a community-based risk stratification pathway
%K Transient elastography
%K risk stratification
%K obesity
%K community
%K chronic liver disease
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2050640618772944