EVALUATION OF LIPID CONTENT IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER STEATOSIS AND STEATOHEPATITIS USING PROTON MR-SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract

Aim.Evaluation of proton MR spectroscopy in the diagnostics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Materials and methods.70 patients (40 men, 30 women) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were included in the study. Average age of patients was 42 ± 11 years. All patients were divided in two groups. The first group included patients with liver steаthosis (n = 37). Patients with steatohepatitis detected by clinical data formed the second group (n = 33). All patients underwent MR spectroscopy for liver fat content evaluation in two time points (prescreening and after 6 months treatment).Results.MR spectroscopy showed fat content in patients with liver steatosis in the range from 7.5% to 58.4%, the median was 22.4% (lower and upper quartiles were 14.9% and 28.7%). After 6 months the liver fat content significantly decreased up to 1.5–43.7%, the median was 13.5% (the lower and upper quartiles were 5.54% and 18.9%). In patients with steatohepatitis the fat content calculated by MR spectroscopy ranged from 10.5% to 60%, the median was 28.8% (the lower and upper quartiles were 16.5% and 31.2%). There was no significant difference in fat content in this group after 6 months therapy (the median was 26.7%, the lower and upper quartiles were 14.2% and 28.7%, p = 0.22).Conclusion.Proton MR spectroscopy can be successfully used in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for liver fat content quantification in steatosis and steatohepatitis. MR spectroscopy can be discussed as a non-invasive biopsy alternative for dynamic evaluation during treatment.