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Abstract #0276

A Novel MRI Protocol to Examine Haemodynamic Compartments in Compensated Liver Cirrhosis

Eleanor F. Cox1, Antonella Ghezzi2, Andrea Bennet2, Mina Patel2, Andrew Jackson2, David Harman2, Carolyn Costigan1, Nur Farhayu Omar1, Martin W. James2, Stephen D. Ryder2, Penelope A. Gowland1, Guru P. Aithal2, I. Neil Guha2, Susan T. Francis1

1Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom; 2NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom


The haemodynamics of four compartments (liver, splanchnic, cardiac and renal) are examined in a single scan session in early compensated cirrhosis (CC) patients and age matched healthy volunteers (HV) using phase contrast and arterial spin labelling in combination with cardiac MR. Patients with CC have lower perfusion in the liver and spleen compared with HV and increased splanchnic flow with vasodilation. Patients also have increased aortic outflow, left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac output. The detection of these changes suggests the technique improves understanding of pathophysiology and has the potential as a tool to assess novel drug therapies.