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MR spectroscopy as a tool for in vivo determination of steatosis in liver transplant recipients

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Abstract

Object

Among several non-invasive methods of liver fat analysis, the most important role is played by MR imaging and spectroscopy (MRS). This study describes the 1H MRS at 3T measurement of liver fat volume fraction \({\phi_{{\rm fat}}}\) in a group of liver transplant patients, an at-risk group for the development of de novo steatosis.

Materials and methods

Seventy-seven liver transplant recipients who underwent routine protocolar posttransplant examination were divided into three groups: CON-PAT (control group for the cross validation test, 48 patients), PAT-PAT (patients test group for the cross validation test, 29 patients), and PAT (pooled data). Single voxel 1H MRS at 3T was used for the determination of \({\phi_{{\rm fat}}}\) and histology results (His) were used as the reference standard.

Results

Linear and non-linear regression models were used to describe the relationship between \({\phi_{{\rm fat}}}\) and His. Strong correlation was found for both models with r = 0.83–0.94 (P < 0.001); a higher r was found for non-linear regression in all tested groups. Areas under receiver operation curves were calculated for cut points His ≥ 5 and > 33% and were found in the range of 0.77–0.86. Fibrosis influences the calculation of \({\phi_{{\rm fat}}}\) and different slopes were obtained for fibrosis stages F0–F1 and F2–F3, respectively.

Conclusion

Significant correlation was found between the results of histology and 1H MRS measurement of liver fat content. The method is suitable for non-invasive repetitive examination of liver fat in liver-transplants patients between protocol biopsies and for the screening of steatosis in other liver diseases.

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Abbreviations

ALD:

Alcoholic liver disease

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

CT:

Computer tomography

US:

Ultrasonography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MRS:

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

LT:

Liver transplantation

CON-PAT:

Control group of patients

PAT-PAT:

Test group of patients

PAT:

Group of all patients

His:

% of affected hepatocytes

HASTE:

Half Fourier Acquired Single shot Turbo spin Echo MRI sequence

VOI:

Volume of interest

ROC:

Receiver operation curve

FTSA:

Fat Total Signal Area

\({\phi_{{\rm fat}}}\) :

Liver fat content (volume fraction of fat in %)

r :

Correlation coefficient

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MR spectroscopy, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    Milan Hájek, Monika Dezortová, Dita Wagnerová & Antonín Škoch

  2. Department of Clinical and Transplant Pathology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic

    Luděk Voska

  3. Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic

    Irena Hejlová & Pavel Trunečka

Authors
  1. Milan Hájek
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  2. Monika Dezortová
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  3. Dita Wagnerová
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  4. Antonín Škoch
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Correspondence to Milan Hájek.

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Hájek, M., Dezortová, M., Wagnerová, D. et al. MR spectroscopy as a tool for in vivo determination of steatosis in liver transplant recipients. Magn Reson Mater Phy 24, 297–304 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-011-0264-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-011-0264-9

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