Liver stiffness (Fibroscan®) is directly controlled by venous pressure

Background and aims: Measurement of liver stiffness (LS) by transient elastography [Fibroscan] is a non-invasive tool to assess liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. However, LS seems to be unreliable in patients with congestive heart failure suggesting that an increased central venous pressure may affect LS. Methods and results: Using landrace pigs, we here studied the direct relationship between the pressure in the caval vein and liver stiffness measured by Fibroscan. Clamping of the caval vein for 5min increased LS from 3.1. kPa to 27.8 kPa while reopening reversed LS within 5min to almost normal values of 5.1 kPa. We th…