Meister P, et al. - Because spleen stiffness (SS) correlates with liver stiffness (LS) and hepatic venous pressure gradient, the latter is currently the most accurate predictor of hepatic decompensation, researchers ascertained if SS has similar predictive capabilities while being an easy-to-perform noninvasive test in a real-life patient cohort. At the same time, 210 successive subjects were examined and received liver and SS measurements and a standard laboratory. Of the initial 210 patients, 159 had a valid LS and SS measurement and could be assessed for clinical follow-up. Investigators found that elevated LS but not elevated SS was associated with acute liver failure. Using SS measurement, the risk of a hepatic decompensation can easily be assessed. SS measurement could, therefore, be a powerful screening tool to identify patients who need closer monitoring. SS is also able to distinguish between acute and chronic or acute on chronic liver damage.