The association of Liver Stiffness with Liver tissue T and Superior Mesenteric Artery blood flow across disease severity.

摘要: We assess liver stiffness measured using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and longitudinal relaxation time T 1 in three groups: healthy volunteers, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients and compensated cirrhosis patients. MRE liver stiffness was measured using the Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance (QIBA) recommendation. T 1 longitudinal relaxation time of the liver was measured using a respiratory triggered inversion recovery fat-suppressed spin-echo echo planar imaging scheme. A positive correlation between Liver tissue T 1 and Liver stiffness (R= 0.70, p< 0.0001) across the 3 groups was observed. Superior mesenteric artery flow also correlates with liver stiffness (R= 0.62, p< 0.002) suggesting worsening hyperdynamic circulation with progressive fibrosis.