Using MR elastography to assess portal hypertension and response to beta-blockers in patients with cirrhosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

MR elastography can determine organ-related stiffness, which reflects the degree of fibrosis. Liver stiffness increases in cirrhosis, and stiffness increases further post-prandially due to increased portal blood in-flow. Non-selective beta-blockers (NSBB) reduce the portal venous inflow, but their effect on liver and spleen stiffness are disputed.

Aims

To assess whether MR elastography of the liver or spleen reflects the severity of cirrhosis, whether treatment with NSBB changes liver and spleen stiffness and whether changes in stiffness can predict the effect of NSBB on portal pressure.

Methods

Fifty-two patients with cirrhosis underwent liver vein catheterization and two-dimensional (2D) MR elastography on separate days. Thirty-six of the patients had a h

SUBMITTER: Danielsen KV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8373798 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature