Effect of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver on hepatic artery resistance index.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various degrees of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver on the hepatic artery resistance index.


METHODS
One-hundred forty subjects were examined using standard color and spectral Doppler sonography protocols. Fatty infiltration of the liver was identified and graded sonographically. The patients were grouped (n = 35 in each of 4 groups) according to the degree of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver as follows: normal (group 1), mild (group 2), moderate (group 3), and severe (group 4). The resistance index calculated for each patient was the mean of 3 measurements. Mean resistance index of the hepatic artery was then calculated for each group.


RESULTS
The mean resistance index was 0.81 +/- 0.04 for group 1, 0.79 +/- 0.06 for group 2, 0.75 +/- 0.05 for group 3, and 0.73 +/- 0.05 for group 4. We found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in resistance index when comparing groups 3 and 4 with groups 1 and 2 separately.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic artery resistance index decreases as the severity of diffuse fatty infiltration increases.
Mihmanli
Ismail
I
Department of Radiology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Kocamustafapasa Street, 34300-Istanbul, Turkey.
Kantarci
Fatih
F
Yilmaz
Mehmet Halit
MH
Gurses
Bengi
B
Selcuk
Dogan
D
Ogut
Gunduz
G
Altug
Ayca
A
Uysal
Omer
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*