Disease severity prognostication in primary sclerosing cholangitis: a validation of the Anali scores and comparison...

Our aim was twofold. First, to validate Anali scores with and without gadolinium (ANALI_Gd and ANALI_NoGd) in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients. Second, to compare the ANALIs prognostic ability with the recently-proposed potential functional stricture (PFS).

This retrospective study included 123 patients with a mean age of 41.5 years, who underwent gadoxetic acid-enahnced MRI (GA-MRI). Five readers independently evaluated all images for calculation of ANALI_Gd and ANALI_NoGd scores based upon following criteria: intrahepatic bile duct change severity, hepatic dysmorphia, liver parenchymal heterogeneity, and portal hypertension. In addition, hepatobiliary contrast excretion into first-order bile ducts was evaluated on 20-minute hepatobiliary-phase (HBP) images to assess PFS. Inter- and intrareader agreement were calculated (Fleiss´and Cohen kappas). Kaplan-Meier curves were generated for survival analysis. ANALI_NoGd, ANALI_Gd, and PFS were correlated with clinical scores, labs and outcomes (Cox regression analysis).

Inter-reader agreement was almost perfect (ϰ = 0.81) for PFS, but only moderate-(ϰ = 0.55) for binary ANALI_NoGd. For binary ANALI_Gd, the agreement was slightly better on HBP (ϰ = 0.64) than on arterial-phase (AP) (ϰ = 0.53). Univariate Cox regression showed that outcomes for decompensated cirrhosis, orthotopic liver transplantation or death significantly correlated with PFS (HR (hazard ratio) = 3.15, p < 0.001), ANALI_NoGd (HR = 6.42, p < 0.001), ANALI_GdHBP (HR = 3.66, p < 0.001) and ANALI_GdAP (HR = 3.79, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified the PFS, all three ANALI scores, and Revised Mayo Risk Score as independent risk factors for outcomes (HR 3.12, p < 0.001; 6.12, p < 0.001; 3.56, p < 0.001;3.59, p < 0.001; and 4.13, p < 0.001, respectively).

ANALI_NoGd and GA-MRI-derived ANALI scores and PFS could noninvasively predict outcomes in PSC patients.

The combined use of Anali scores and the potential functional stricture (PFS), both derived from unenhanced-, and gadoxetic acid enhanced-MRI, could be applied as a diagnostic and prognostic imaging surrogate for counselling and monitoring primary sclerosing cholangitis patients.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis patients require radiological monitoring to assess disease stability and for the presence and type of complications. A contrast-enhanced MRI algorithm based on potential functional stricture and ANALI scores risk-stratified these patients. Unenhanced ANALI score had a high negative predictive value, indicating some primary sclerosing cholangitis patients can undergo non-contrast MRI surveillance.