According to researchers, using ultrasound to examine liver tissue of pediatric cystic fibrosis patients could be an effective diagnostic tool and allow early identification of cystic fibrosis liver disease.
Cirrhosis, which refers to late-stage of fibrosis of the liver, occurs in approximately 5–7% of people with CF and is the third-leading cause of death in these patients. There is currently no therapy that can effectively prevent or reverse cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD).
“In the absence of a gold-standard diagnostic test for CFLD and with concerns about the limited accuracy of liver biopsy for this condition, we believe that our findings validate the likely clinical significance for [heterogeneous] pattern on [ultrasonography],” researchers said.
