Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL) Guidance Paper on Nomenclature, Diagnosis and Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease globally and in India. The already high burden of NAFLD in India is expected to further increase in the future in parallel with the ongoing epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Given the high prevalence of NAFLD in the community, it is crucial to identify those at risk of progressive liver disease to streamline referral and guide proper management. Existing guidelines on NAFLD by various international societies fail to capture the entire landscape of NAFLD in India and are often difficult to incorporate in clinical practice due to fundamental differences in sociocultural aspects and health infrastructure available in India. A lot of progress has been made in the field of NAFLD in the 7 years since the initial position paper by the Indian National Association for the Study of Liver on NAFLD in 2015. Further, the ongoing debate on the nomenclature of NAFLD is creating undue confusion among clinical practitioners. The ensuing comprehensive review provides consensus-based, guidance statements on the nomenclature, diagnosis, and treatment of NAFLD that are practically implementable in the Indian setting.

T1ρ magnetic resonance imaging value as a potential marker to assess the severity of liver fibrosis: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: Assessment of liver fibrosis is essential for the management of liver disease. Although liver biopsy is the gold-standard modality for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, it has some limitations. Thus, other methods are required to overcome the disadvantages of a liver biopsy. T1ρ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) values are potential biomarkers for liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to assess the relationship between T1ρ MRI values and liver fibrosis severity by measuring the correlation between T1ρ values and shear wave elastography (SWE) values, which are routinely used for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. METHODS: T1ρ imaging and SWE values were obtained from four healthy volunteers and 16 patients with chronic liver disease. The regions of interest on MR images were drawn and matched with those of the right liver lobe on SWE images. RESULTS: The mean T1ρ values of the right liver lobe correlated positively with the mean SWE values (Pearson's correlation coefficient: 0.783; p < 0.0001; 95 % confidence interval: 0.623-0.880). CONCLUSION: The mean T1ρ values of the right liver lobe may be correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis.

Evaluation of Splenic Stiffness in Patients of Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction Using 2D Shear Wave Elastography: Comparison with Intra-Operative Portal Pressure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare splenic stiffness (SS) with intra-operative portal pressures (PPs) in patients of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO). METHODS: Twenty-one patients (14 males; 7 females) of mean age 20.4 years with clinical and sonographic diagnosis of EHPVO were included in this approved prospective study. Endoscopy for esophageal varices (EV) was done in all patients followed by ultrasonographic 2D shear wave elastography (SWE) of spleen. Three values were taken at different areas of spleen avoiding major vessels and mean was calculated. Intra-operative PP was measured from an omental vein during proximal spleno-renal shunt surgery. The PP was compared and correlated with SS along with other parameters. RESULTS: The mean SS was 46.04 ± 8.0 kPa and the mean PP was 33.29 ± 4.1 mmHg. There was no significant correlation between PP and SS (P = 0.61) and between grades of EV and SS (P = 0.38). Significant correlation was seen between grades of EV and PP (0.04). SS also did not show significant correlation with splenic size or duration of disease. CONCLUSION: SS measured by 2D SWE did not correlate with PP and thus may not help in predicting gastrointestinal bleed in patients of EHPVO.