Can gadoxetic acid–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging be used to avoid liver biopsy in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

Table 1 Baseline features of the study population and comparison of the isolated steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis groups

Characteristic	Total (n = 56)	Isolated steatosis (n = 18)	NASH (n = 38)	P value
Age, yr	57.5 ± 8.4	57.5 ± 8.0	57.5 ± 8.7	> 0.93
Sex, female	73.2	66.7	76.3	0.52
Body mass index, kg/m2	32.5 ± 5.1	31.6 ± 5.6	32.9 ± 4.9	0.37
Systemic arterial hypertension	87.5	94.4	84.2	0.40
Diabetes mellitus	72.7	83.3	67.6	0.33
Dyslipidemia	85.7	72.2	92.1	0.09
Triglycerides (mg/dL)	167.2 ± 7.6	167.9 ± 91.4	166.8 ± 70.2	0.99
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	192.4 ± 41.2	195.9 ± 40.5	190.7 ± 41.9	0.66
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L)	31.5 ± 16.0	24.8 ± 5.5	34.6 ± 18.3	0.07
Alanine aminotransferase (U/L)	48.8 ± 30.3	34.2 ± 11.5	55.7 ± 33.9	0.01
Gama-glutamyl transpeptidase (U/L)	77.7 ± 66.2	62.5 ± 43.6	84.8 ± 74.0	0.26
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	0.56 ± 0.21	0.52 ± 0.15	0.57 ± 0.24	0.52
Albumin (g/dL)	4.1 ± 0.4	4.0 ± 0.3	4.1 ± .47	0.32

Data are reported as means with standard deviations or percentages. NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Table 2 Histological characteristics by study group

Characteristic	Total (n = 56)	Isolated steatosis (n = 18)	NASH (n = 38)
Fibrosis stage
0	-	100	10.5
1	-	-	65.8
2	-	-	5.3
3	-	-	10.5
4	-	-	7.9
Steatosis grade
1	30.4	72.2	10.5
2	51.8	22.2	65.8
3	17.8	5.6	23.7

Values are percentages. NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Table 3 Differentiation of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from isolated steatosis using different contrast enhancement index cut-offs

CEI cut-off	Sensitivity (%)	Specificity (%)
1.66	32	94
1.76	47	83
2.00	92	28

CEI: Contrast enhancement index.