Fatty Liver in Obesity: Relation to Doppler Perfusion Index Measurement of the Liver

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 2000, Vol.35 (9), p.976-980
• Main Authors: KAKKOS, S. K, YARMENITIS, S. D, TSAMANDAS, A. C, GOGOS, C. A, KALFARENTZOS, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Fatty Liver - diagnosis; Fatty Liver - diagnostic imaging; Fatty Liver - etiology; Female; Humans; Liver - pathology; Liver Circulation; Liver Function Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - pathology; Prospective Studies; Triglycerides - blood; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
• ISSN: 0036-5521; 1502-7708
• DOI: 10.1080/003655200750023066

Background: The correlation of clinical and laboratory findings with various imaging techniques in obese patients is difficult. Colour duplex Doppler is of particularly limited value in fat individuals. The Doppler Perfusion Index (DPI) measures the ratio of hepatic arterial to total liver blood flow and seems to be more accurate in the study of hepatic hemodynamics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical use of DPI measurement of the liver in obesity. Methods: In the present prospective, open study we evaluated the DPI in 41 obese patients (body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2) and 18 volunteers with normal or slightly increased weight. Thirty patients of the study group underwent liver biopsy during bariatric surgery. In these patients liver histology was assessed and age, BMI, waist to hip ratio (WHR), DPI, liver function tests and serum triglycerides were measured. Results: Obese patients had significantly (P