A new method could notably enhance the diagnosis of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis, a condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation in liver cells, the University of Coimbra (UC) announced today in a statement.
The research utilized LiverMultiScan, a non-invasive MRI technique, which allows for precise imaging and the identification of biomarkers for disease monitoring.
The results indicated that LiverMultiScan is a cost-effective tool, capable of enhancing diagnostic rates while potentially eliminating the need for biopsies, offering a pain-free option for patients.
This approach “allows a non-invasive procedure to replace the need for a liver biopsy, improving cost-effectiveness, enabling the diagnosis of more individuals more quickly and with fewer medical visits,” according to Miguel Castelo-Branco, one of the study’s authors and director of the Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research Center at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health.
The technology, developed by the company Perspectum, also offers a non-invasive approach for diagnosing and monitoring chronic liver diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis and viral hepatitis.
In the Portuguese context, “this technique confirmed the improvement in quality of life and simultaneously showed significant differences compared to other countries concerning healthcare provision and costs,” explained Castelo-Branco, who is also a professor at the UC Faculty of Medicine.
“Interestingly, the disparity between initial cost increases and long-term benefits was more pronounced in Portugal, impacting the implementation of health promotion strategies,” he added.
The study involved 802 participants, including 154 from Portugal, and was carried out with the involvement of the UC, the Coimbra Local Healthcare Unit, and several health centers in the Central region of the country.
The University of Coimbra participated in this study as part of the European project “RADIcAL – Non-invasive rapid assessment of chronic liver disease using Magnetic Resonance Imaging with LiverMultiScan,” funded by the European Commission.
