Pharmacokinetic Modelling of Gd-EOB-DPTA Uptake: Early Progression of NASH in A Clinically Relevant Cohort, at 1.5 and 3 T

Due to the increased global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), there is a significant need for precise and non-invasive clinical methods to detect early stages of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to cirrhosis. We investigate the possibility of using the hepatocyte specific contrast agent Gd-EOB-DPTA based DCE-MRI in combination with mathematical modelling to assess hepatobiliary influx, as a possible biomarker for early NASH detection. We show a tentative correlation between increased portal inflammation and decreased hepatic Gd-EOB-DPTA uptake in a cohort of prospectively included patients with suspected chronic liver disease.