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Chronic liver disease: relaxometry in the brain after liver transplantation

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Abstract

Relaxometry revealed changes in the basal ganglia in T1 and T2 relaxation times due to liver disease. Manganese is probably responsible for T1 and T2 shortening (as the concentration is known to be higher in both the liver and blood due to hepatic cirrhosis). The aim of this study was to follow possible recovery after liver transplantation by MR relaxometry. Together with a group of 20 healthy volunteers we scanned 53 patients before and after liver transplantation (some of them repeatedly). Both T1 and T2 values were evaluated in the basal ganglia, thalamus, and frontal white matter. T1, relaxation timewas shortened by approx. 20–25% compared to the control group, probably the result of manganese deposition in the brain caused by hepatic cirrhosis. After liver transplantation the relaxation time recovered gradually with almost normal values reached approx. 2 years after surgery. T1, recovery was observed in all evaluated structures. Similar results were observed with T2 relaxation in the basal ganglia and thalamus. In the white matter T2 remained low even 2 years after surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MR-Unit, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, 140 21, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    V Herynek, Milan Babi, Monika Dezortov & Milan Hájek

  2. Hepatogastroenterology Clinic, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, 14021, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    Pavel Trune & Karel Filip

  3. Department of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Hospital Na Homolce, Prague, Czech Republic

    Josef Vymazal

Authors
  1. V Herynek
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  2. Milan Babi
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  3. Pavel Trune
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  4. Karel Filip
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  5. Josef Vymazal
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  6. Monika Dezortov
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  7. Milan Hájek
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Correspondence to V Herynek.

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Herynek, V., Babi, M., Trune, P. et al. Chronic liver disease: relaxometry in the brain after liver transplantation. MAGMA 12, 10–15 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678268

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678268

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