Positron emission tomography combined with serum biomarkers detects fibrotic MASH

Sci Rep. 2024 Sep 20;14(1):21939. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-72655-x.

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a rising global disease signaling the urgent need for non-invasive tests (NITs). Recent work demonstrated that dynamic 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging can identify MASH by measuring liver glucose transport rate, K1, and liver CT attenuation. By combining dynamic PET/CT with the serum-based fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) test, we were able to better distinguish clinical MASH from fibrotic subtypes, enabling determination of the core tenets of MASH: steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Future studies using FDG-PET technology can further enable concomitant prediction of MASH severity and extrahepatic comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers* / blood
  • Fatty Liver / blood
  • Fatty Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / blood
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography* / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18