Translation of a non-contrast quantitative MRI protocol for portal pressure prediction

Most complications in liver cirrhosis arise from portal hypertension. Using a vendor-specific fat suppressed spin-echo echo planar imaging T1 mapping method along with measures of flow within the superior mesenteric artery, we previously validated MRI as a surrogate measure of portal pressure at 1.5 and 3T. Here we translate this work to three MR vendors (GE, Philips and Siemens) using commercially available sequences allowing multi-site studies of assessment of portal pressure. Importantly, this could provide a non-invasive measure of portal pressure for clinical use to replace current invasive gold standard measures.