Real-Time Tissue Elastography to Evaluate Hepatic Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury Caused by Brain Death

This study aimed to explore the potential of real-time tissue elastography (RTE) in evaluating hepatic hypoxic-ischemic injury caused by brain death. We performed RTE and biopsy for 50 donated liver. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe hepatocyte acidophilic change. Liver grafts were divided into 2 groups, one nonacidophilic change (n = 7) and the other with acidophilic change (n = 43). Correlation and difference analysis were performed for hematoxylin-eosin staining results and RTE parameters. The result indicated that 4 of the 11 RTE parameters, namely, the area of low strain within the region of interest (%AREA), contrast (CONT), inverse difference moment (IDM), and correlation (CORR) were related to hepatocytes acidophilic change (r = 0.284, P = 0.046; r = 0.349, P = 0.013; r = −0.444, P = 0.001; r = −0.381, P = 0.00). Whereas %AREA and CONT of the nonacidophilic change group were lower than that of the acidophilic change group (P < 0.05), IDM and CORR in nonacidophilic change group were higher than that of the acidophilic change group (P < 0.05); the remaining parameters were not statistically different between 2 groups (P > 0.05). Analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the area under the curve of %AREA, CONT, IDM, and CORR were 0.75, 0.79, 0.81, and 0.77, respectively. Based on this, we concluded that the quantitative analysis parameters of RTE could preliminary assess hepatic hypoxic-ischemic injury caused by brain death.