This study integrates and evaluates a series of novel MRI methods for quantifying blood perfusion and tissue microstructure. The proposed perfusion and microstructure measures may provide biomarkers for fibrosis, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and response to treatment. The precision of these methods will be evaluated in 110 participants, including healthy volunteers, people with chronic liver disease (CLD), and people with liver fibrosis.
The overall goal of this project is to develop a next-generation, confounder-corrected Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-MRI method for quantification of tissue perfusion and microstructure, and to validate this method in patients with CLD. This protocol will address these unmet needs through the following specific aims: Aim 1: Develop and optimize confounder-corrected IVIM to enable precise quantification over the entire liver. Aim 2: Validate the technical and clinical performance of confounder-corrected IVIM in patients with CLD. Aim 3: Demonstrate confounder-corrected IVIM as a marker of intrahepatic vascular resistance in patients with CLD, including those with and without portal hypertension. Primary Objectives: 1. Repeatability of confounder-corrected IVIM \[repeatability coefficient\] 2. Reproducibility of IVIM across acquisition parameters \[coefficient of reproducibility\] 3. Ability to predict histological features (fibrosis stage) of CLD \[area under the curve (AUC), optimal cutoffs, sensitivity, specificity\] 4. Determine the response to a meal challenge in patients without and with portal hypertension \[pre vs post meal change of IVIM parameters evaluated using mixed effects modeling\]
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
110
* Each study visit will last approximately 2 hours * The visit will include approximately 1 hour of MR imaging * Participants will be asked to fast for 5 hours prior to the research visit
A subset of participants (N=15 with portal hypertension and N=15 without portal hypertension) from the Liver Fibrosis Cohort will be imaged in the fasted state, then exit the scanner where they will be asked to drink two Ensure Plus Nutrition shake. After a 20-minute delay, each subject will re-enter the scanner for additional imaging.
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Test-retest repeatability of IVIM parameters: Perfusion Fraction
Test-retest repeatability of IVIM parameters will be acquired during a single study visit, summarized using repeatability coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit
Test-retest repeatability of IVIM parameters: Blood Velocity Standard Deviation
Test-retest repeatability of IVIM parameters will be acquired during a single study visit, summarized using repeatability coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit
Test-retest repeatability of IVIM parameters: Diffusion Coefficient
Test-retest repeatability of IVIM parameters will be acquired during a single study visit, summarized using repeatability coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit
Reproducibility of IVIM across acquisition parameters
Consistency of IVIM measurements across MRI acquisition parameters (relevant parameters include: respiratory motion mitigation approach (respiratory triggered vs free-breathing), and/or spatial resolution, and/or diffusion weighting values), summarized using coefficients of reproducibility and variation.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit
Diagnostic performance for liver fibrosis: AUC
Diagnostic performance for liver fibrosis: Ability of IVIM parameters to differentiate histologic stages of liver fibrosis using ROC analysis.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit
Diagnostic performance for liver fibrosis: Sensitivity (True Positive Rate)
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Diagnostic performance for liver fibrosis: Ability of IVIM parameters to differentiate histologic stages (for example: distinguish stages 0-1 from stages 2-4) of liver fibrosis using ROC analysis.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit
Diagnostic performance for liver fibrosis: Specificity (True Negative Rate)
Diagnostic performance for liver fibrosis: Ability of IVIM parameters to differentiate histologic stages (for example: distinguish stages 0-1 from stages 2-4) of liver fibrosis using ROC analysis.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit
Response to Meal Challenge in Participants with and without Portal Hypertension
Change in IVIM derived perfusion parameters before and after a standardized meal challenge in participants with and without portal hypertension, evaluated using mixed effects modeling.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit (pre and post meal imaging)
Image Quality
Radiologist rated image quality using a 5 point Likert scale assessing motion, distortion, apparent SNR, and overall quality. Scored from 1-5 with higher scores meaning better quality.
Time frame: data collected over one hour during one study visit