Correlation of doppler waveform abnormalities of hepatic veins with histological findings in chronic liver disease [HCV infection]

ABSTRACT

To study the relationship of the abnormalities in Doppler waveform of hepatic veins with histologic findings in chronic liver disease [HCV infection]. cross- sectional study. Radiology Department Military Hospital Rawalpindi. The duration of study was one year from February 2004 to February 2005. 50 patients with non de-compensated HCV infection were studied, who were subjected to biopsy by medical specialists. Their Doppler waveforms of hepatic veins were noted. On histopathology, 4 cases [8%] had no evidence of fibrosis, 27 cases [54%] had mild, 15 cases [30%] had moderate and 4 cases [8%] had severe fibrosis. Three patterns of waveform were observed. These waveforms include normal triphasic waveform [type O], decreased amplitude of phasic oscillations without the reversed flow phase [type 1] and completely flat waveform [type 2]. Among 33 cases of type 0 flow, majority [85%] had either mild fibrosis. Twelve cases that had type 1 flow, majority [92%] had mild to moderate fibrosis. Out of 5 cases that were observed ultrasound type 2 flow, all had either moderate or severe fibrosis. The degree of fibrosis was related directly to the hepatic vein waveforms abnormalities [p<0.001]. Ultrasonographic abnormalities of Doppler waveforms of hepatic veins are equivalent to histology in predicting the progression of CLD