Correlation of hepatic vein Doppler waveform and hepatic artery resistance index with the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various degrees of fatty infiltration in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on hepatic artery resistance index and hepatic vein waveform patterns.


METHODS
After identification and grading of fatty infiltration, 60 patients and 20 normal healthy subjects were examined using color and spectral Doppler sonography. The level of fatty liver infiltration was ascertained and graded by biopsy in patients and excluded by MRI in controls. The patients were allocated to four study groups consecutively, until the required number was reached, according to infiltration level as follows: normal (group A), mild (group B), moderate (group C), and severe (group D). The hepatic vein waveforms were classified into the three following groups: triphasic, biphasic, and monophasic waveform. The hepatic artery resistance index was calculated as the mean of three different measurements.


RESULTS
The incidence of monophasic and biphasic hepatic vein waveform was 2 (10%) for group B, 11 (55%) for group C, 16 (80%) for group D, and none for group A. The difference in the distribution of triphasic Doppler waveform pattern between the patients and the control group was significant (p < 0.001). Hepatic artery resistance index was 0.81 (+ or - 0.02), 0.78 (+ or - 0.03), 0.73 (+ or - 0.03), and 0.68 (+ or - 0.05), respectively, in groups A, B, C, and D and was significantly different between groups (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
As the severity of nonalcoholic fatty infiltration increases, the incidence of abnormal hepatic vein waveforms increases and hepatic artery resistance index decreases.
Mohammadinia
Amir Reza
AR
Radiology Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
Bakhtavar
Khadijeh
K
Ebrahimi-Daryani
Nasser
N
Habibollahi
Peiman
P
Keramati
Mohammad Reza
MR
Fereshtehnejad
Seyed Mohammad
SM
Abdollahzade
Sina
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods*; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D055815:Young Adult