Chronic Liver Disease Studies

Principle Investigator:

Jayant A. Talwalkar, M.D.
Email: talwalkar.jayant@mayo.edu
Secretary phone: (507)284–4823

Study Coordinator:
Stephanie Johnson, RN
Email: johnson.stephanie@mayo.edu
Phone: (507)284–9709

Specific Aims:

Primary:

• Determine the sensitivity and specificity of MR elastography for detecting clinically important hepatic fibrosis compared to the reference standard of liver biopsy.
• Identify the relationships between liver stiffness by MR elastography, hepatic fibrosis and quantitative portal venous pressure measurement in patients with chronic liver disease compared to histology from liver biopsy.

Study Design:

Evaluation of a new imaging technique called Magnetic Resonance (MR) Elastography. Using a special MRI scan and computer software, we are now able to measure the stiffness of a person’s liver. Among individuals with fibrosis or scarring in their liver, the stiffness may be changed from normal values. This stiffness value may indicate how much fibrosis is present in the liver.