Heiko G. Niessen1, Michael Neumaier1,
Thomas Kaulisch1, Ingolf Sack2, Dieter Klatt3,
Thomas Klein4, Juergen Braun3, Detlef Stiller1
1In-Vivo Imaging, Target Discovery
Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany; 2Dept.
of Radiology, Charite-University Medicine
Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a promising tool to distinguish steatohepatosis from fibrosis and to differentiate various stages of fibrosis. Here, rats were fed with a combined methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) and high-fat diet (HFD) to induce liver fibrosis. Age-dependent alterations were investigated with MRE, imaging (T2, ADC), and spectroscopy. For MRE a newly developed hydraulic-based actuator was used. MRE yields a significantly different storage and loss modulus in the rat liver after MCD/HF-diet. In addition, T2 is significantly increased, the ADC reduced compared to control animals. However, the magnitude of the latter effects is smaller than those obtained with MRE.