Mayo Clinic Laboratory and Pathology Research Roundup: Jan. 7

The Research Roundup provides an overview of the past week’s research from Mayo Clinic Laboratories consultants, including featured abstracts and a complete list of published studies and reviews.


Featured Abstract

The Role of 3D-MRE in the Diagnosis of NASH in Obese Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

The lack of reliable, noninvasive methods to diagnose early nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a major unmet need. Mayo Clinic researchers aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of 3D-MRE, with shear stiffness measured at 60 Hz, damping ratio at 40 Hz, and MRI proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) in the detection of NASH in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery. Obese adults at risk for NASH were enrolled between 2015–2017  and 2010–2013. The imaging protocol consisted of multifrequency 3D-MRE (mf3D-MRE) with shear waves delivered at different frequencies to explore parameters that best correlated with histologic NASH; and MRI-PDFF to estimate steatosis. The prospective cohort was used to establish the optimal mf3D-MRE technical parameters for NASH detection. The 2 cohorts were then combined to derive predictive models of NASH and disease activity by NAFLD activity score (NAS) using the 3 imaging parameters that correlated with NASH. From the complex shear modulus output generated by mf3D-MRE, the damping ratio at 40 Hz and shear stiffness at 60 Hz best correlated with NASH. The fat fraction obtained from MRI-PDFF correlated with steatosis. Multifrequency 3D-MRE allows identification of novel imaging parameters that predict early NASH and disease activity. This imaging biomarker represents a promising alternative to liver biopsy for NASH diagnosis and monitoring. The study was published in Hepatology.


Published to PubMed This Week

Kelley Luedke

Kelley Luedke is a Marketing Channel Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She is the principle editor and writer of Insights and leads social media and direct marketing strategy. Kelley has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2013. Outside of work, you can find Kelley running, traveling, playing with her kitty, and exploring new foods.