[CT-based estimation of liver function using arterial enhancement fraction in liver cirrhosis patients]

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2019 May 28;44(5):469-476. doi: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2019.05.001.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

To explore the feasibility and clinical value of CT-based arterial enhancement fraction (AEF) for evaluating liver function in liver cirrhosis patients. Methods: Fifty-two patients with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A, B, and C group included 13, 20, and 19 patients, respectively) and 17 patients without liver diseases as control were prospectively enrolled, respectively. All individuals underwent three-phase hepatic CT, and the color mapping of AEF were obtained in CT kinetics software, as well as the corresponding parameters, i.e., hepatic AEF (HAEF) and the ratio of HAEF to spleen AEF (H/S). The AEF parameters were compared among different groups, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated. The Spearman correlation analysis was performed between the AEF parameters and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in liver cirrhosis patients. Results: The interobserver agreement of HAEF and H/S were perfect, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were 0.918 (95% CI 0.871 to 0.949), 0.946 (95% CI 0.915 to 0.966), respectively. The HAEF and H/S among those groups were significant different (both P<0.001), and they elevated with the increase of Child-Pugh classification in liver cirrhosis patients (all P<0.05, except the H/S between Child-Pugh A and B). In all patients with liver cirrhosis, the AUROC of HAEF and H/S were 0.933 and 0.821 for Child-Pugh A, and were 0.925 and 0.915 for Child-Pugh C, respectively. The HAEF and H/S of patients with liver cirrhosis were significantly correlated with the MELD score (HAEF: r=0.752, P<0.001; H/S: r=0.676, P<0.001). Conclusion: CT-based AEF parameters including HAEF and H/S are closely associated with the severity and prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis, which have the potential to estimate the liver function in liver cirrhosis patients quantitatively and effectively.

目的:探讨CT动脉增强分数(arterial enhancement fraction,AEF)评估肝硬化患者肝功能损伤程度的可行性及临床价值。方法:前瞻性招募符合纳入及排除标准的52例肝硬化患者(Child-Pugh A,B,C级肝硬化患者组分别为13,20及19例)和17例无肝脏疾病者作为对照。受试者均行肝3期增强CT扫描,利用CT Kinetics软件进行后处理获得AEF彩图及其定量参数肝AEF(hepatic AEF,HAEF)、肝与脾AEF比值(H/S)。比较不同Child-Pugh级别间HAEF,H/S的差异,并计算受试者工作特征曲线下面积(area under the receiver operating characteristic curve,AUROC),对肝硬化患者的HAEF,H/S与终末期肝病模型(model for end-stage liver disease,MELD)评分进行Spearman相关性分析。结果:HAEF,H/S的观察者间一致性高,组内相关系数(intraclass correlation coefficient,ICC)分别为0.918(95% CI:0.871~0.949),0.946(95% CI:0.915~0.966)。对照组与Child-Pugh A,B,C级肝硬化患者组间的HAEF,H/S差异有统计学意义(均P<0.001);肝硬化患者HAEF,H/S随Child-Pugh分级增加呈升高趋势,且除Child-Pugh A级组与B级组H/S外差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.001)。在所有肝硬化患者中,HAEF,H/S用于诊断Child-Pugh A级的AUROC分别为0.933,0.821;用于诊断Child-Pugh C级的AUROC分别为0.925,0.915。肝硬化患者HAEF,H/S与MELD评分呈显著正相关(HAEF:r=0.752,P<0.001;H/S:r=0.676,P<0.001)。结论:CT AEF相关参数HAEF,H/S与肝硬化严重程度及预后密切相关,能简单、有效地评估肝功能损伤状况。.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed