Hepatic perfusion parameters in chronic liver disease: dynamic CT measurements correlated with disease severity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to determine if hepatic perfusion parameters measured with CT change in relation to disease severity in patients with chronic liver disease.


METHODS
Dynamic contrast-enhanced single-section CT scans of the liver were obtained in 40 individuals who included six control subjects, 16 patients with noncirrhotic chronic liver disease, and 18 patients with cirrhosis. Hepatic, aortic, and portal venous time-density curves were fitted to a dual-input one-compartment model to calculate the liver perfusion, arterial fraction, distribution volume, and mean transit time.


RESULTS
Liver perfusion decreased in patients with cirrhosis (67 +/- 23 mL. min(-1). 100 mL(-1) versus 108 +/- 34 mL. min(-1). 100 mL(-1) in control subjects [p = 0.009] and 98 +/- 36 mL. min(-1). 100 mL(-1) in patients with noncirrhotic chronic liver disease [p = 0.003]), and the arterial fraction and the mean transit time increased (41 +/- 27% and 51 +/- 79 sec versus 17 +/- 16% and 16 +/- 5 sec in control subjects, and 19 +/- 6% and 17 +/- 8 sec in patients with noncirrhotic chronic liver disease [p < 0.05]). A significant correlation was seen between these three perfusion parameters and the severity of chronic liver disease based on clinical and biologic data (p < 0.001). No significant change in distribution volume was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic perfusion parameters measured with CT were significantly altered in cirrhosis and correlated with the severity of chronic liver disease.
Department of Radiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, St-Luc University Hospital, Ave. Hippocrate 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
B E
BE
Van Beers
I
I
Leconte
R
R
Materne
A M
AM
Smith
J
J
Jamart
Y
Y
Horsmans
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol