Introduction:

Real-time supersonic shear wave elastography (SSI) is a noninvasive test that is used to determine the elasticity of the liver and thus calculate the degree of liver fibrosis. Sometimes, it can replace a liver biopsy, and it is useful for monitoring the majority of patients with liver disease. In Colombia, the test has recently been introduced, so there have been no studies of test in healthy people here until now.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the elastography in real time in healthy subjects in Bogotá.

Materials and methods:

This is a retrospective pilot study of healthy subjects between 15 and 37 years old who underwent SSI between June 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017. A clinical history was taken and basic evaluation of liver function was performed to rule out abnormalities.

Results:

The series included 33 healthy subjects, 60.6% women and 39.4% men with an average age of 24.8 years. When the test was performed, an average value of 4.28 kilopascals (kPs) was found, with minimal difference between the sexes but greater hepatic rigidity in men.

Conclusions:

The mean values ​​of hepatic rigidity in 33 healthy subjects in Bogotá are the same as those reported in the initial studies internationally. These findings suggest that the test may be very useful for the evaluation of patients with liver disease in our environment.

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