Liver fibrosis assessed with transient elastography is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke

Background and aims The relationship between liver fibrosis and the occurrence of ischemic stroke is unknown. We investigated the correlation between liver fibrosis assessed with transient elastography (TE) and the risk of ischemic stroke. Methods Between April 2013 and August 2014, patients with acute ischemic stroke and subjects who underwent a health check-up were included in the study. Liver fibrotic burden was assessed with TE in all participants. The degree of liver fibrosis was compared between groups by using various multiple logistic regression models and propensity-score matched analyses. Results Two hundred ninety-five patients with ischemic stroke (stroke group) and 1942 subjects with health check-up (control group) were included. The mean liver stiffness (LS) on TE (5.6 vs. 4.1 kPa) and the proportion of significant fibrosis (>8 kPa) (9.2% vs. 1.8%) were significantly higher in the stroke than in the control group (all p<0.05). These trends were observed regardless of body mass index, the degree of hepatic steatosis, and metabolic syndrome (all p<0.05). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for ischemic stroke was 1.268 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.183–1.358) per 1 kPa increase and 12.033 (95% CI 5.180–27.948) for significant fibrosis, compared with no fibrosis (all p < 0.05). Propensity-score matched analysis also confirmed that liver fibrosis was independently associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (OR 1.804 [95% CI 1.461–2.230] per 1 kPa increase, 13.184 [95% CI 3.127–55.645] for significant fibrosis, compared with no fibrosis; all p<0.001). Conclusions The degree of liver fibrosis, assessed with TE, was significantly associated with the risk of ischemic stroke.