AMUSE (Attenuation Measuring Ultrasound Shear wave Elastography)

2024: Technology Creation

In mid-October 2024, American researchers presented an ultrasound method that allows you to detect and determine the stage of acute cellular rejection of a liver transplant. The shear wave ultrasonic elastography with attenuation measurement (AMUSE) method was compared with biopsy data, yielding "excellent" results.

Acute cellular rejection is an early complication after liver transplantation that occurs in 20-40% of patients and requires corticosteroid therapy. Another early complication is ischemic reperfusion injury, which has similar laboratory manifestations, but usually resolves without therapy. To distinguish between these two complications, a liver biopsy was commonly used. Unlike biopsy, the AMUSE method is non-invasive and, accordingly, more preferable.

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Researchgate.net

The AMUSE method estimates the velocity and attenuation of the shear wave. Previous studies have shown that AMUSE can be applied to non-invasive characterization of tissues, so the researchers decided to evaluate the possibility of differential diagnosis of acute cellular rejection and compare the results with the "gold standard" diagnosis, that is, liver biopsy. In addition, in patients with cellular rejection, the researchers evaluate the possibility of tracking response to corticosteroid therapy through the AMUSE method.

The study involved 58 liver transplant patients. Of these, 13 patients underwent a complete examination from cell rejection detection on Day 7 to therapy initiation and repeated biopsy on Day 14. The results showed that the AMUSE method could allow physicians not only to diagnose cellular transplant rejection, but also to monitor changes in liver viscoelasticity and response to corticosteroid treatment without biopsy.^[1]

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