The association of clinical characteristics and liver stiffness measurement with liver viscosity measured by shear wave elastography in patient with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Anchasa Opasatian; Natthaporn Tanpowpong; Pisit Tangkijvanich

doi:10.2478/abm-2026-0006

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The association of clinical characteristics and liver stiffness measurement with liver viscosity measured by shear wave elastography in patient with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Asian Biomedicine

Volume 20 (2026): Issue 1 (February 2026)

By: Anchasa Opasatian, Natthaporn Tanpowpong and Pisit Tangkijvanich

Open Access

|Feb 2026

Abstract

Background

Viscosity plane-wave ultrasound (Vi.PLUS) measures tissue viscosity by using shear wave dispersion within tissues. The tissue viscosity is associated with the degree of liver necroinflammation, which is an important mechanism that leads to the development of liver fibrosis (LF).

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the association of clinical characteristics and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) with liver viscosity measurement by shear wave elastography (SWE) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Methods

This monocentric cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection included 164 patients. The medical records of patients aged ≥18 years with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and who underwent MRE and Vi.PLUS at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital were reviewed. The viscosity measurements were performed according to guidelines.

Results

Of the 164 patients, 11 (6.7%) had invalid or unreliable measurements by elastographic technique and 4 (2.4%) were excluded due to incomplete clinical data. This resulted in 149 subjects being included in the final analysis. The study found good correlation between viscosity measurements by shear wave elastography and LSM by MRE (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis found that body mass index (P = 0.032) and LSM by MRE (P < 0.001) were independently associated with Vi.PLUS values.

Conclusion

In conclusion, viscosity measured by shear wave elastography is a non-invasive method of assessing liver inflammation with good correlation to LF. This may aid the early diagnosis of liver inflammation in patients with NAFLD.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abm-2026-0006 | Journal eISSN: 1875-855X | Journal ISSN: 1905-7415

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Language: English

Page range: 1 - 7

Published on: Feb 27, 2026

Published by: Chulalongkorn University

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 6 issues per year

Keywords:

liver fibrosis,

liver inflammation,

magnetic resonance elastography,

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,

viscosity plane-wave ultrasound

Related subjects:

Medicine,

Assistive professions, nursing,

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other,

Clinical medicine,

Clinical medicine, other

© 2026 Anchasa Opasatian, Natthaporn Tanpowpong, Pisit Tangkijvanich, published by Chulalongkorn University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 20 (2026): Issue 1 (February 2026)