Liver cirrhosis: evaluation of haemodynamic changes using an ultrasound contrast agent

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Medical Imaging
• Hemodynamics

Background:

• Liver cirrhosis significantly alters hepatic hemodynamics.
• Accurate assessment of these changes is crucial for diagnosis and management.
• Current methods may be invasive or less accessible.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Doppler signal arrival and peak enhancement times in the hepatic vein using Levovist.
• To compare these parameters in patients with liver cirrhosis, chronic liver disease, and healthy controls.
• To assess the utility of automated time-intensity curve analysis for objective measurement.

Main Methods:

• Ultrasound (US) with Levovist contrast agent was used.
• Doppler signal arrival and peak enhancement times in the hepatic vein were measured.
• Patients included 12 with cirrhosis (Child stages A, B, C), 16 with chronic liver disease, and 12 healthy controls.
• Automated software analyzed time-intensity values from signal recording.

Main Results:

• Signal arrival times were significantly shorter in cirrhotic patients compared to non-cirrhotic individuals (P < 0.001).
• Patients with Child stage C cirrhosis had shorter arrival times than Child stage A (P < 0.001).
• Peak enhancement differences were significant between cirrhotic patients and controls (P < 0.001).
• Cirrhotic patients consistently showed hepatic vein arrival times under 17 seconds.

Conclusions:

• Automated time-intensity curve analysis provides objective and identifiable measurements.
• Levovist-enhanced Doppler assessment of hepatic vein passage is a potential non-invasive tool.
• This method offers a well-tolerated and cost-effective approach for diagnosing and monitoring liver disease.