Usefulness of Liver Stiffness Measurement in Predicting Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease Development in Patients Who Undergo HSCT: a Multicentric Prospective Study

Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome (SOS), also known as hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD), is a life-threatening complication in patients undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) for onco-haematological disease.

In the severe form, mortality rate can be high as 80%. Patients developing SOS/VOD present a higher survival rate when earlier SOS/VOD- specific therapy has initiated. In order to get better outcomes, it is necessary to improve early diagnosis of SOS/VOD, finding new non--invasive diagnostic instruments.

The aim of this prospective multicenter study is to assess in a large, mixed (adult and paediatric) population undergoing HSCT, the diagnostic role for SOS/VOS of Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM), assessed by different elastographic methods.

In our study, Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM) can be measured by Transient Elastography (TE) with Fibroscan, Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) or 2D-Share Wave Elastography (2D-SWE). Once chosen an elastometric method at baseline, the same must be used for all subsequent evaluations of the patient.

In patients undergoing HSCT, within one month, a complete baseline evaluation is provided. Baseline evaluation (T0) includes: signature of informed consent, haematological and hepatological anamnesis, in order to assess comorbidities and risk factors for hepato-biliary complications; complete laboratory tests; abdominal Color-Doppler Ultrasound and hepatic Elastography (with Transient Elastography, ARFI or 2D-SWE).