Investigation of Correlation Between Hepatic Perfusion Parameters with Dynamic Enhanced CT Scans and the Model for End-stage Liver Disease Scores in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Objective To study association between hepatic perfusion parameters measured with dynamic enhanced CT scans and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods Dynamic enhanced CT scans of the liver were performed in 41 subjects including 10 subjects as control and 31 patients with liver cirrhosis with 64-slice CT scanner. A correlation analysis between perfusion parameters measured with dynamic enhanced CT scans and MELD scores was completed. Results In the control group, arterial liver perfusion (ALP), portal venous perfusion(PVP)and hepatic perfusion index (HPI) was (73.07±8.53) ml·100 ml-1·min-1, (11.25±1.70) ml·100 ml-1·min-1,and (13.59±2.27)%, respectively. ALP, PVP, HPI in patients with liver cirrhosis was (16.21±5.50) ml·100 ml-1·min-1, (46.53±15.70) ml·100 ml-1·min-1, (27.87±13.25)%, respectively. In patients with liver cirrhosis, PVP decreased (P0.05), but ALP and HPI increased (P0.05). PVP in patients with MELD scores 6 was lower than that in patients with MELD scores ≤6(P0.05). There was no significant difference in ALP and HPI between patients with MELD scores 6 and subjects as control. A significant correlation was seen between these three perfusion parameters and MELD scores. Conclusions Hepatic perfusion parameters could be measured with dynamic enhanced CT scans. There was correlation between perfusion parameters and MELD scores.