Temporal changes in liver stiffness after Fontan operation: Results of serial magnetic resonance elastography

Background: The relationship between temporal progression of magnetic resonance elastography derived liver stiffness (MRE-LS) and progression of Fontan associated liver disease (FALD) is unknown. To assess this relationship, we hypothesized that progression of MRE-LS correlated with progression FALD severity and clinical outcomes. Methods: Retrospective review of Fontan patients who had > 1 liver MRE, 2010-2016. Annual change in MRE-LS was the quotient of the difference between baseline and subsequent MRE-LS, and the interval between scans. Results: 22 patients were enrolled; median age 29(19-38) years, 14 (64%) males and 10 (46%) with atiiopulmonary Fontan. Baseline and subsequent MRE-LS values were 5.4 +/- 1.1 kPa and 5.8 +/- 0.9 kPa" for clarity, interval between scans was 25 5 months, and annual change in MRE-LS was 0.3 +/- 02 kPa. Temporal change in MRE-LS correlated with temporal changes in model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (r = 0.84, p < 0.001) and model for end-stage liver disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score (r = 0.75, p = 0.001). The study cohort was divided into 2 groups using the mean annual change in MRE-LS as the cut point. Groups A and B comprised of patients with annual increase in MRE-LS >= 0.3 kPa (n = 6) and < 0.3 kPa (n = 16) respectively. Composite adverse event endpoint (death, heart-liver transplant listing, palliative care, hospitalization, paracentesis) was more common in Group A (4 of 6, 67%) compared to Group B (3 of 16, 19%), p = 0.13 although this did not reach statistical significance clue to small sample size. Conclusions: Progression of MRE-LS correlated with clinical deterioration as measured by worsening liver disease severity scores and the occurrence of adverse events. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,