Background: Liver cirrhosis remains a major medical and social problem worldwide due to its high morbidity, mortality, and frequent complications, including portal hypertension. Early diagnosis of cirrhosis is challenging because of the long asymptomatic course of the disease. Multiparametric ultrasound imaging, combining B-mode ultrasound, Doppler sonography, and shear wave elastography (SWE), provides a non-invasive approach for assessing both structural and hemodynamic liver changes.
Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic value of multiparametric ultrasound examination combined with Doppler assessment of portal and arterial blood flow and liver shear wave elastography in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Materials and Methods: The study included 104 patients with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies. All patients underwent B-mode ultrasound, Doppler sonography of portal and arterial vessels, and SWE. Disease severity was assessed using the Child–Pugh classification. Ultrasound and Doppler parameters were compared with data from healthy volunteers and patients with diffuse liver diseases without cirrhosis.
Results: Multiparametric ultrasound revealed characteristic structural and hemodynamic changes depending on cirrhosis stage. Portal vein diameter increased and portal blood flow velocities decreased with disease progression. Liver stiffness values measured by SWE increased significantly from Child–Pugh stage A to C. A significant negative correlation was found between liver stiffness and portal blood flow velocities (p < 0.05). SWE enabled detection of fibrosis and cirrhosis at early stages, before the appearance of morphological signs of portal hypertension.
Conclusion: Multiparametric ultrasound examination, including Doppler sonography and shear wave elastography, is a highly effective non-invasive method for early diagnosis, staging, and monitoring of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Regular follow-up examinations every 6 months are recommended to improve prognosis and timely detect complications.