Metabolic disturbances in liver 1H MR spectroscopy in HIV and HCV co-infected patients as a potential marker of hepatocyte activation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) features in order to assess hepatocellular activation in chronic hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C (HIV/HCV) co-infected patients.


METHODS
Liver in vivo 1H MR spectra were obtained in 14 patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), 20 HIV/HCV co-infected individuals, and 24 healthy volunteers. Resonances of lipids, glutamine/glutamate (Glx), phosphomonoesters (PME), glycogen/glucose (Glc) were assessed and metabolite ratios to total lipids (TL) were calculated.


RESULTS
A significant increase in Glx/TL and PME/TL was observed in the HCV group as compared to healthy individuals. Patients with HIV and HCV co-infection had a further increase of all metabolite ratios. Changes in metabolite ratios were due to both the increase in particular metabolite contents and to the decrease in lipid levels. HIV/HCV-infected patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) showed elevated PME and Glx levels and significantly decreased TL compared to patients not undergoing anti-retroviral treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest clinical usefulness of liver 1H MR spectroscopy in detecting even slight disturbances in liver metabolism.
Tarasów
E
E
Department of Radiology, Medical University Hospital, Bialystok, Poland. geno@interia.pl
Wiercińska-Drapało
A
A
Jaroszewicz
J
J
Siergiejczyk
L
L
Orzechowska-Bobkiewicz
A
A
Prokopowicz
D
D
Walecki
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons
D011522:Protons