Comparing Endoscopic Ultrasound and Ultrasound Methods to Measure Liver Fibrosis in Adults with MASLD Screening

What this Trial Is About

This research investigates the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided shear wave elastography EUS-SWE in assessing liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease MASLD who have absent-to-mild liver fibrosis. MASLD includes a range of liver conditions from simple fat accumulation to inflammation and cirrhosis. Existing methods like vibration-controlled transient elastography VCTE are commonly used due to lower cost and less invasiveness but have limitations in evaluating certain liver areas, especially in overweight patients. The study compares three non-invasive techniques VCTE, transparietal ultrasound-based shear wave elastography US-SWE, and EUS-SWE. EUS-SWE allows a more reliable evaluation of the right hepatic lobe independently of patient body anatomy but is more invasive and costly. Participants will undergo these imaging procedures to measure liver steatosis and fibrosis grades. The trial includes two groups patients meeting MASLD screening criteria and controls without these criteria. Participants will be assessed over six months using these imaging methods to measure liver stiffness and steatosis grades. Procedures will include fasting and avoiding alcohol before imaging. EUS-SWE involves an endoscopic procedure to obtain measurements from both liver lobes. The main outcomes are liver steatosis and fibrosis grades determined by each method. Safety and accuracy of each technique will be monitored throughout the study duration.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Shear Wave for Liver Fibrosis in MASLD Patients: The RUMIPAMBA Trial