Relationship between controlled attenuated parameter and magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction for evaluating hepatic steatosis in patients with NAFLD

We used cross-sectional and longitudinal studies to comprehensively compare hepatic steatosis measurements obtained with magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and controlled attenuated parameter (CAP) in hepatic steatosis in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A total of 185 participants with NAFLD and 12 non-NAFLD controls were recruited. CAP and MRI-PDFF data were collected at baseline from all participants and from 95 patients included in the longitudinal study after 24 weeks of drug or placebo intervention. Pearson correlation, linear regression, and piecewise linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between the two modalities. Linear analysis suggested a positive correlation between CAP and MRI-PDFF (r = 0.577, p < 0.0001); however, piecewise linear regression showed no correlation when CAP was >= 331 dB/m (p = 0.535). In the longitudinal study, both the absolute and relative change measurements were correlated between the two modalities; however, the correlation was stronger for the relative change (relative r = 0.598, absolute r = 0.492; p < 0.0001). Piecewise linear regression analysis revealed no correlation when CAP was reduced by more than 53 dB/m (p = 0.193). Conclusions: We found a correlation between CAP and MRI-PDFF measurements for grading hepatic steatosis when CAP was <331 dB/m. While the measured absolute change and relative change were correlated, it was stronger for the relative change. These findings have implications for the clinical utility of CAP or MRI-PDFF in the clinical diagnosis and assessment of NAFLD.