Clinical Characteristics of a Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Population Across the Fibrosis Spectrum Measured by Magnetic Resonance Elastography: Analysis of Screening Data

Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most common liver diseases, is associated with liver-related complications and metabolic comorbidities. The phenotype is wide, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with advanced fibrosis. In this analysis of a phase 1 trial, clinical characteristics of screened subjects with NAFLD were studied according to the extent of fibrosis assessed using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Methods: One hundred ninety-four subjects with body mass index (BMI) of 25-40 kg/m 2 and suspected NAFLD were assessed by MRE and grouped by MRE thresholds as a proxy for fibrosis staging (groups 0-4). Data were summarized by group levels, and correlation analyses between MRE values and clinical parameters (including magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction) were performed. Results: Most subjects had MRE values in the lower range (groups 0-1; N = 148). Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and BMI [ 35 kg/m 2 were more frequent in groups with higher than lower MRE values. Subjects in the highest MRE groups also tended to be older and have higher liver enzyme concentrations compared with lower MRE groups. No, or weak, correlations were found between MRE values and clinical parameters (all r values B 0.45). Conclusions: There was considerable variation and overlap in clinical characteristics across the spectrum of liver stiffness. Although groups with high MRE values generally included more subjects with T2D and obesity, and had higher age and concentrations of liver enzymes, the clinical characteristics did not strongly correlate with MRE scores in this population. Trial Registration: Registered on Clinicaltrials.gov on November 29, 2017 (NCT03357380).

Randomised clinical trial: semaglutide versus placebo reduced liver steatosis but not liver stiffness in subjects with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease assessed by magnetic resonance imaging

“…MRE and MRI‐PDFF assessments were performed at baseline and every 24 weeks after randomisation to evaluate liver stiffness and liver steatosis, respectively. MRI assessments were conducted as described previously 30 . MRI/MRE assessments were conducted using a Siemens 1.5T MRI scanner.…”

“…MRI assessments were conducted as described previously. 30 MRI/MRE assessments were conducted using a Siemens 1.5T MRI scanner. MRI‐PDFF was performed using a 3D 6‐echo gradient echo sequence covering the entire liver, and quantitative PDFF maps were reconstructed.…”

One-Step Synthesis of Carbon Nanoparticles Capable of Long-Term Tracking Lipid Droplet for Real-Time Monitoring of Lipid Catabolism and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Lipid-Lowering Drugs

“…In 2018, about 25% of the global population suffered from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is currently one of the most common liver diseases except viral hepatitis. In addition to increasing the risk of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, the probability of fatty liver patients’ concurrent cirrhosis and liver cancer is 150 times that of healthy people. − Atorvastatin is a commonly used lipid-regulating drug in clinical practice, affecting the synthesis of cholesterol and working for NAFLD. , On the premise that the effect of atorvastatin on the luminescence of CDs is negligible (Figure S20), the CDs were used as a beacon to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on the uptake of lipid in hepatocytes and to investigate the role of the probe in the screening and efficacy evaluation of lipid-regulating drugs. First, the LDs were labeled by CDs to observe the status under normal physiological conditions (Figure E) and then changed to high-fat medium and cultured for another 24 h. It is observed that the brightness and number of LDs increased significantly (Figure F).…”

Therapeutic and diagnostic targeting of fibrosis in metabolic, proliferative and viral disorders

“…Other tissues of interests for investigating the extent and damage of diabetes are the liver and the pancreas. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has been used for assessing the stage and severity of liver fibrosis in diabetic patients via measuring liver stiffness [329,330]. [331].…”