A study published online June 25 in Current Medical Imaging sought to determine the value of hepatic T2 imaging for the evaluation of chronic hepatitis-B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF).

Patients were divided into 3 groups and were subjected to liver MRI using m-GRASE sequence (multi-echo gradient and spin echo): 28 HBV-ACLF patients, 11 chronic hepatitis B patients, and 14 healthy controls. A T2 image was produced using post-processing software, and the mean T2 (relaxation time) value was calculated. Blood biochemical indices for the HBV-ACLF and chronic hepatitis B patients were obtained within 2 days pre- or post-MR scanning. Investigators analyzed the patients T2 values, and the correlation between their biochemical indices and T2 values. The efficiency of using T2 values in the diagnosis of HBV-ACLFA was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve.

Significant variations were noted in the T2 values among the three study groups. The AUC of T2 values for diagnosing HBV-ACLF was 0.86 (P < 0.001), with a cut-off value of 57.73 ms. There appeared to be a moderately positive correlation between the T2 value and the international normalized ratio, prothrombin time, and hyaluronic acid values (rs = 0.65, P < 0.001; rs = 0.67, P < 0.001; rs = 0.39, P = 0.025). A moderately negative correlation was evident between T2 value and prothrombin activity, albumin, and prealbumin values (rs = -0.67, P < 0.001; rs = -0.48, P = 0.004; rs = -0.37, P = 0.030).

It was concluded that T2 values had the potential to reflect liver function state, as they had a correlation with certain biochemical indices, showing good diagnostic efficiency for diagnosing HBV-ACLF.

 Source: Lan L, Lu X, Shu J. T2 Values for Diagnosing Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure in Hepatitis B Patients. Curr Med Imaging. 2020 Jun 25.