Effect of hepatic steatosis on native T1 mapping of 3T magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of T1 values for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This study investigated whether T1 values in native T1 mapping of 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver were affected by the fatty component.

METHODS:

This prospective study involved 340 participants from a population-based cohort study between May 8, 2018 and August 8, 2019. Data obtained included: (1) hepatic stiffness according to magnetic resonance elastography (MRE); (2) T1 value according to T1 mapping; (3) fat fraction and iron concentration from multi-echo Dixon; and (4) clinical indices of hepatic steatosis including body mass index, waist circumference, history of diabetes, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and triglycerides. The correlations between T1 value and fat fraction, and between T1 value and liver stiffness were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The independent two-sample t-test was used to evaluate the differences in T1 values according to the presence or absence of hepatic steatosis, and the one-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the difference in T1 value by grading of hepatic steatosis according to MRI-based proton density fat fraction (PDFF). In addition, univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to determine whether other variables influenced the T1 value.

RESULTS:

T1 value showed a positive correlation with the fat fraction obtained from PDFF (r = 0.615, P < 0.001) and with the liver stiffness obtained from MRE (r = 0.370, P < 0.001). Regardless of the evaluation method, the T1 value was significantly increased in subjects with hepatic steatosis (P < 0.001). When comparing hepatic steatosis grades based on MRI-PDFF, the mean T1 values were significantly different in all grades, and the T1 value tended to increase as the grade increased (P < 0.001, P for trend <0.001). On multiple linear regression analysis, the T1 value was influenced by MRI-PDFF, calculated liver iron concentration, liver stiffness, and serum aspartate aminotransferase level.

CONCLUSION:

The T1 value obtained by current T1 mapping of 3T MRI was affected by the liver fat component and several other factors such as liver stiffness, iron concentration, and inflammation.

• Authors: Jhii-Hyun Ahn, Jeong-Sik Yu, Kyu-Sang Park, Seong Hee Kang, Ji Hye Huh, Jae Seung Chang, Jong-Han Lee, Moon Young Kim, Marcel Dominik Nickel, Stephan Kannengiesser, Jang-Young Kim, Sang-Baek Koh
• Journal: Magnetic resonance imaging (Magn Reson Imaging) Vol. 80 Pg. 1-8 (07 2021) ISSN: 1873-5894 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 33798658 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Cohort Studies
• Humans
• Liver (diagnostic imaging)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (diagnostic imaging)
• Prospective Studies