Short-term changes observed in multi-parametric liver MRI following therapy with direct acting antivirals in chronic hepatitis C virus patients

Bradley, C.; Scott, R.A.; Cox, E.; Palaniyappan, N.; Thompson, B.J.; Ryder, D.; Irving, W.L.; Aithal, G.P.; Guha, I.N.; Francis, S.

Abstract

Methods: We applied multiparametric MRI to assess changes in liver composition, perfusion and blood flow in 17 patients before DAA therapy and after treatment completion (within 12 weeks of last DAA tablet swallowed).
Results: We observed changes in hepatic composition indicated by a reduction in both liver longitudinal relaxation time (T1, 35±4 ms), transverse relaxation time (T2, 2.5±0.8 ms; T2* 3.0±0.7 ms) and liver perfusion (28.1±19.7ml/100g/min) which we suggest are linked to reduced pro-inflammatory milieu, including interstitial oedema, within the liver. No changes were observed in liver or spleen blood flow, splenic perfusion, or SMA blood flow.
Conclusion: For the first time, our study has shown that treatment of HCV with DAAs in patients with cirrhosis leads to an acute reduction in liver T1, T2, T2* and an increase in liver perfusion measured using MR parameters. The ability of MRI to characterise changes in the angio-architecture of patients with cirrhosis after intervention in the short term will enhance our understanding of the natural history of regression of liver disease and potentially influence clinical decision algorithms.

Citation

Bradley, C., Scott, R., Cox, E., Palaniyappan, N., Thompson, B., Ryder, D., Irving, W., Aithal, G., Guha, I., & Francis, S. (2019). Short-term changes observed in multi-parametric liver MRI following therapy with direct acting antivirals in chronic hepatitis C virus patients. European Radiology, 29(6), 3100–3107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5788-1

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 4, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2018
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Deposit Date: Sep 4, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 4, 2018
• Journal: European Radiology
• Print ISSN: 0938-7994
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 3100–3107
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5788-1
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1059169
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00330-018-5788-1
• Contract Date: Sep 4, 2018