Korean J Radiol.  2011 Aug;12(4):450-455. 10.3348/kjr.2011.12.4.450.

Evaluation of Portal Venous Velocity with Doppler Ultrasound in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

• Ulusan S
• Yakar T
• Koc Z

• KMID: 1783211
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2011.12.4.450

Abstract

PURPOSE
We examined the relationship between portal venous velocity and hepatic-abdominal fat in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), using spectral Doppler ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this prospective study, 35 patients with NAFLD and 29 normal healthy adults (control group) underwent portal Doppler US. The severity of hepatic steatosis in patients with NAFLD was assessed by MRI through chemical shift imaging, using a modification of the Dixon method. Abdominal (intra-abdominal and subcutaneous) fat was measured by MRI.
RESULTS
The difference in portal venous velocity between the patients with NAFLD and the control group was significant (p < 0.0001). There was no correlation between the degree of abdominal or hepatic fat and portal venous velocity (p > 0.05). There were strong correlations between the hepatic fat fraction and subcutaneous adiposity (p < 0.0001), intraperitoneal fat accumulation (p = 0.017), and retroperitoneal fat accumulation (p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that patients with NAFLD have lower portal venous velocities than normal healthy subjects.

Keyword

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Ultrasound (US); Magnetic resonance (MR)

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat/pathology
Adult
Aged
Blood Flow Velocity/*physiology
Case-Control Studies
Fatty Liver/*physiopathology/*ultrasonography
Female
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity/complications
Overweight/complications
Portal Vein/*ultrasonography
Prospective Studies
*Ultrasonography, Doppler

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Spectral Doppler US of maximum velocities in portal veins of control subjects and patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD). A. Maximum velocity (Vmax) in portal vein of normal subject (43.30 cm/s). B. Vmax in portal vein of patient with NAFLD (18.10 cm/s).

• 

  Fig. 2 In-phase (A) and out-of-phase (B) images, with corresponding signal intensities, are shown for individual with steatosis (32%). Circle in each image represents region of interest. Region of interest signal intensities are from same slice. In-phase and out-of-phase images were used to derive hepatic fat fraction, according to equation: fat fraction = SIin-phase - (SIout-of phase / 2 SIin-phase).

• 

  Fig. 3 Axial T1-weighted MR image at umbilical level, with outlined subcutaneous adipose tissue and intra-abdominal adipose tissue (intra- and retro-peritoneal) compartments. Subcutaneous adipose tissue; section 1, retroperitoneal adipose tissue; sections 2 and 3, intraperitoneal adipose tissue; section 4.

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