Magnetic Resonance Elastography Predicts Fibrosis Progression in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Use of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) as an imaging technique has been shown to be highly accurate in hepatic fibrosis assessment in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), even those who are severely overweight. However, it is unclear if an increase in MRE liver stiffness measurement corresponds to progression in liver fibrosis.

In a longitudinal cohort study of 102 well-characterized patients with NAFLD, researchers examined whether a ≥15% increase in MRE stiffness value was associated with fibrosis progression. Each patient underwent standardized research visits, paired liver biopsies, and MRE assessments at two time points between 2011 and 2018. The primary end point was the odds of fibrosis progression of ≥1 stage…