Doppler perfusion index in adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a multi-factorial disorder is the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests in adolescents. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess Doppler perfusion index (DPI) in adolescents with NAFLD as compared with healthy subjects. Patients and Methods: Thirty-seven adolescents with NAFLD and 25 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Hemodynamic indices were measured using a color Doppler ultrasound machine. Severity of fatty liver disease and steatosis grade were assessed using FibroScan. The measured indices were peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistive index (RI), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time-averaged mean velocity (TAMV), time-averaged peak velocity (TAPV), portal venous blood flow (PVBF) volume, hepatic arterial blood flow (HABF) volume, and DPI. Results: The mean of DPI in the case and control groups was 0.31±0.11 and 0.31±0.09, respectively (P=0.972). HABF volume was significantly lower in the case group as compared with the control group (103.8 versus 153.3 respectively, P=0.015). PSV, TAMV, mean velocity, and PVBF volume were significantly lower in the case group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Patients with a higher steatosis grade indicated a significantly lower mean of PSV and TAMV portal than controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: DPI was similar in adolescents with NAFLD and healthy subjects and was not associated with severity of fatty liver disease and steatosis grade. In addition, the percentage of steatosis would be increased with increased liver span.