Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP): a noninvasive method for the detection of hepatic steatosis based on transient elastography

• Published in: Liver international 2012-07, Vol.32 (6), p.902-910
• Main Authors: Myers, Robert P., Pollett, Aaron, Kirsch, Richard, Pomier-Layrargues, Gilles, Beaton, Melanie, Levstik, Mark, Duarte-Rojo, Andres, Wong, David, Crotty, Pam, Elkashab, Magdy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biopsy; Body Mass Index; Chi-Square Distribution; Chronic Disease; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; elastography; fatty liver; Fatty Liver - diagnosis; Fatty Liver - diagnostic imaging; Fatty Liver - pathology; Female; Humans; Liver - diagnostic imaging; Liver - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnosis; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnostic imaging; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Ontario; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; steatosis
• ISSN: 1478-3223; 1478-3231
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2012.02781.x

Background Accurate tools for the noninvasive detection of hepatic steatosis are needed. The Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) specifically targets liver steatosis using a process based on transient elastography. Methods Patients with chronic liver disease and body mass index (BMI) ≥28 kg/m2 underwent biopsy and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with simultaneous CAP determination using the FibroScan® M probe. The performance of the CAP for diagnosing steatosis compared with biopsy was assessed using areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). Results A total of 153 patients were included: 69% were male, median BMI was 32 kg/m2; 47% had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); and 65% had significant (≥10%) steatosis. The CAP was significantly correlated with the percentage of steatosis (ρ = 0.47) and steatosis grade (ρ = 0.51; both P