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Evaluación a gran escala del sistema de la OMS de clasificación ultrasonográfica de la fibrosis periportal por esquistosoma en Etiopía
Author(s) -
Berhe Nega,
Geitung Jonn T.,
Medhin Girmay,
Gundersen Svein G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01665.x
Subject(s) - medicine , thickening , fibrosis , kappa , pathology , gastroenterology , radiology , linguistics , chemistry , philosophy , polymer science
Summary Objectives To evaluate the recent WHO's ultrasonographic diagnostic staging system of schistosomal periportal thickening/fibrosis and to assess intra/inter‐observer variation associated with its use. Methods Local standard of portal branch wall thickness (PBWT) for height was established using 150 healthy subjects. Intra and inter‐observer variation in image pattern identification and PBWT measurements were assessed in 94 and 35 subjects, respectively, with differing stages of periportal thickening fibrosis. WHO's diagnostic criteria were evaluated in 2451 community members (1277 males, 1174 females; mean age 18.8 years) with an overall Schistosoma mansoni prevalence estimate of 65.9%. Results There were no significant inter/intra‐observer variations in image pattern identification and PBWT measurements. Based on Ethiopian PBWT‐for‐height standard, 128/2451 (5.2%) had insipient, 46/2451 (1.9%) had possible/probable and 112/2451 (4.6%) had definite/advanced periportal thickening/fibrosis. Comparable figures were obtained using the Senegalese PBWT‐for‐height standard and there was good agreement between Ethiopian and Senegalese healthy control‐based diagnostic criteria in classifying the 286 subjects into stages of periportal thickening/fibrosis ( κ = 0.87, P < 0.001). Conclusions With further improvement, the WHO's ultrasonographic diagnostic criteria can be used in health institutions and community surveys. Image pattern based assessment is simple and more reproducible than PBWT based assessment of periportal thickening/fibrosis. The latter is, however, more useful in clarifying the status of an individual with doubtful image pattern, and in monitoring post‐treatment outcome of periportal thickening/fibrosis. Considering the comparability of PBWT‐for‐height standards, setting one international standard of PBWT‐for‐height is more practical than developing local standards for each endemic area.