MRI quantifies liver response in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients: 4 insights

A form of MRI technology can quantify liver response in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, according to recent research by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

Here's what you need to know:

1. NASH is an advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. NAFLD often has no symptoms, and its effects are not noticeable until the disease has progressed to NASH or, ultimately, to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

2. The researchers found that a form of MRI that measures fat density in the liver (called magnetic resonance imaging-estimated proton-density-fat-fraction) corresponds with microscopic tissue analyses from patients with NASH.

3. The researchers believe that this MRI technique may be a non-invasive and cost-effective alternative to biopsies, which are traditionally used in NASH clinical trials and treatments.

4. However, the researchers note that "further external validation by independent research groups is needed," according to a UCSD School of Medicine news release.

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