This is the first comprehensive book on the new elastographic techniques discussing the early assessment of liver fibrosis. The book covers all aspects of measuring liver stiffness starting from the methodology, the molecular basis of liver stiffness elevation up to current clinical algorithms and interpretation. Future directions and novel implications that go beyond diagnosis but are relevant for understanding of liver cirrhosis per se are also discussed in detail.

Liver Elastography, is an essential companion for hepatologists and gastroenterologists that provides an overview of its basic principles and gives a detailed account of how to use elastrography in clinical practice.

<p>Measurement of Liver stiffness - History, techniques, performance

Transient elastography
Sampling error
ARFI and other US-based techniques
MRE
Animal studies
Take home message
Liver stiffness and its association with fibrosis 
Fibrosis Histology
Disease etiology
Take home message
Important clinical confounders of LS
CVP heart failure
Arterial pressure
Portal pressure
Cholestasis
Hydrostatic pressure
Outflow inflow concept
Nutrition and alcohol consumption
position
Histology correlates     ballooning steatosis inflammation
Genes Rausch
Else amyloidosis, mastocytosis
Take home message
LS and important clinical endpoints
HCC
Portal hypertension, bleeding
Survival
Disease specific aspects
LTX
Hepatic decompensation
Take home message
 How to use LS in clinical practice: State of the art 2019
Standard procedure  position, technique, fasting
Dissection from inflammation: Intervention and inflammation-adapted
Disease specific algorithms: portal vs lobular vs cholestatic disease
LS in combinations with spleen stiffness: portal hypertension and bleeding
Spleen stiffness, techniques, spleen size
Localization of hepatic disease: lobular, portal versus extrahepatic
Comparison of various techniques
Screening of populations
Combination with serum markers
Sparing of biopsies
Take home message
Future applications of LS
Cardiololgy cardiac cirrhosis
Intensive care unit  mortality CVP
Nephrology water retention
Hematology
LTX setting waiting list
Screening in addiction medicine
Pregnancy
Therapeutic monitoring of portal pressure lowering drugs
Other organs
Specific interpretation in clinical context
LS and hepatic vs non-hepatic ascites Ascites
LS changes in cirrhotics
Mechanic cholestasis
Clinical cases
CAP
Steatosis techniques
CAP performance
Genetics
Molecular insights based on LS
Pressure hypothesis of liver fibrosis
Stiffness in vitro
Extracellular matrix and stiffness Matrix
Future directions and open questions
Molecular basics of LS
Directions of future studies
Future diagnostic algorithms.</p><p></p>