Use of Transient Elastography in Detection of Liver Fibrosis in Psoriasis Patients – A Cross- Sectional Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The risk of liver damage in psoriasis increases with increase in cumulative dose of methotrexate and guidelines suggest use of liver biopsy for risk mitigation. Recently, transient elastography (TE) has been used for detection of liver fibrosis. Most studies for TE are in hepatitis B and C patients. However, psoriasis patients have risk factors like metabolic syndrome which predisposes them to increased risk of liver damage due to methotrexate. This underlying liver disease may change the TE values in patients with psoriasis. The aim of this study is to determine utility of transient elastography in detection of liver fibrosis in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: 82 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis requiring systemic therapy or already on methotrexate were included in the study. Clinical examinationand biochemical investigations were conducted. Data were analysed using STATA 12.1 (Texas, USA). Univariate analysis using Chi-square and independent't-test' was carried out to evaluate the association between categorical variables and outcomes. RESULTS: Patients consists of 62 males and 20 females. TE value >7 kPa (kilopascal) were seen in 23 patients and <7 kPa were seen in 59 patients. Value of >7 kPa was significantly associated with age, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, fasting and post prandial blood sugar, AST, PASI and presence of metabolic syndrome. Cumulative methotrexate dose was not significantly associated with high TE value. Mean TE value in patients with metabolic syndrome was significantly higher. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and inability to confirm TE findings on liver biopsy. CONCLUSION: TE is a non-invasive tool for detection of liver fibrosis. Value of >7 kPa correlates with liver fibrosis in most chronic liver diseases. However, high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psoriasis patientsmayconfound utility of TE for monitoring of methotrexate toxicity.