Identification of Hepatic Fibrosis Using 4D-MRI

Chronic liver diseases represent a rising global health threat. A prolonged inflammatory state leads to progressive fibrosis that can result in liver cirrhosis associated with serious complications including loss of liver function or hepatocellular carcinoma development. A particularly strong increase in the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality occurs in fatty liver disease, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease; (ALD).To date, no specific treatment options for these conditions exist, and there is a large global effort to find drugs that will halt liver disease progression in these patients. Liver fibrosis staging is essential as a diagnostic/prognostic measure and there is an increasing demand for accurate non-invasive liver stiffness measurement tools. This research project proposes a novel MR-based quantitative Liver Deformation Biomarker (qLDB) approach for non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment by using a new technique called 4D-MRI. This technique makes it possible to overcome limitations in currently used techniques, i.e. to capture the abdominal organs with high spatial resolution in 3-dimensions at a high frame rate of 2-3 Hz and enabled an entirely new insight into the human body. The final diagnosis (i.e., stage of fibrosis) is based on quantifying changes of the liver's mechanical properties by dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) measurements and comparing the liver's elastic deformation with healthy livers. This innovative methodology allows for the first time to quantitatively measure the elastic deformation of organs during free-breathing and for an extended period, since no harmful X-rays are required. The hypothesis of the study is that the mechanical changes a liver undergoes during liver disease progression are visible in 4D-MRI data sets as a reduced elasticity. This will be assessed using our 4D-MRI approach taking into account the liver's deformation induced by natural respiration and also cardiac pulsation. The primary objective of the study is to compare liver deformation, induced at different respiratory breath-hold positions, by respiratory motion, and cardiac pulsation, between healthy subjects and patients with histologically confirmed liver cirrhosis in order to find a novel biomarker for non-invasive staging of liver fibrosis.

Inclusion criteria

• age ≥ 18 years
• (a) Patients with histologically confirmed chronic liver disease, including NAFLD, ALD, viral hepatitis B and C, genetic (e.g. Wilson disease, hemochromatosis) or autoimmune liver disease
• (b) Patients with acute liver inflammation or cardiac blood congestion to the liver (as assessed by laboratory values, imaging findings and clinical history)
• ability to understand and consent to participate in this study

Exclusion criteria

• Medical implant like cardiac pacemaker, pump, hip prosthesis
• Metallic objects in the body (e.g. splinters after an accident)
• Persons who have undergone brain or cardiac surgery
• Claustrophobia
• Body Weight >140kg or as provided by the MR manufacturer
• Pregnant and lactating women
• (a) Active hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (remark: patients with a history of HCC and curative treatment can be included)
• (a) CHILD C cirrhosis
• (a) and (b) Patients with overt ascites (except if they respond to diuretic treatment and the ascites resolves)
• (c) Metabolic syndrome, BMI >30 kg/m2
• (c) Acute or chronic liver disease
• Patients not willing or able to give a written informed consent