Evaluation of the influence of severe steatosis on fibrosis measurement in a rat model with NAFLD by DMA and ARFI technology

摘要

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health concern due to the increasing obesity epidemic and it has the risk to progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is important to assess the severity of hepatic fibrosis for the risk-stratified management of patients with NAFLD. Ultrasound elastography is a new technique for evaluation of liver fibrosis and it has been widely used in routine clinical practice. However, its measurement is usually influenced by the hepatic steatosis in NAFLD patients, and the quantitative evaluation of that influence is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of severe steatosis on fibrosis measured by elastography technique in a rat model and compare the results with the conventional dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) technique.