Correlation Between Hepatic Steatosis, Hepatic Volume, and Spleen Volume in Live Liver Donors

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in liver fatty content and the volumes of liver and spleen after body weight reduction in potential living liver donors. Materials and methods Twenty-three potential living donors had fatty livers at pretransplantation sonography and computed tomography (CT). All were advised to undergo body weight reduction by exercise and diet control. A percutaneous core liver biopsy was performed in segment 5 of the liver in 22 donors to evaluate the hepatic fat content before and after body weight reduction. We compared the changes in the liver CT attenuation values and volume changes in the left and right lobes of the liver and the spleen before and after body weight reduction. Results The mean (SD) body weight, body mass index, and fatty content of the liver biopsy specimens were 73 (17) kg, 26.8 (4.4), and 16.9% (12.7%), respectively, before body weight reduction and 70 (15) kg, 25.3 (3.8), and 6.6% (3.7%), respectively, thereafter. These changes were significant. The CT attenuation values of the left and right lobes of the liver and spleen were 54 (11), 51 (11), and 52 (5) HU, respectively, before body weight reduction and 60 (8), 58 (6), and 53 (5) HU, respectively, thereafter. The mean CT attenuation value of the left lateral segment was greater than that of the right lobe both before and after body weight reduction. The volume of the left and right lobes and spleen changed from 497 (129) cm 3 to 452 (99) cm 3, 927 (237) cm 3 to 846 (173) cm 3, and 185 (65) cm 3 to 186 (63) cm 3, respectively, thereafter. The right and left lobe volume change ratios were 7.0% (10.6%) and 7.6% (11.1%), respectively, but showed no significant difference. Twenty of the 23 candidates were able to donate part of their liver. Conclusion Body weight reduction by exercise and diet control in potential living liver donors is effective to reduce the fatty content of the liver. Reversed percentage of the fatty content and volume of the liver was observed in these donors. The volumes of the right and left lobes of liver decreased significantly after body weight reduction. The volume changes were proportional.