Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating fibrosis regression in chronic hepatitis C patients after direct-acting antiviral

Figure 1 The study flow chart. HCV: Hepatitis C virus; Gd-EOD-DTPA: Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; IFN: Interferon; SVR: Sustained virological response.

Figure 2 Contrast enhancement index decreased with the progression of liver fibrosis. A: Contrast enhancement index (CEI) decreased with the progression of fibrosis, and there was significant difference between patients with Ishak score 0-2, 3-4 and 5-6; B: In patients with modified histology activity index (mHAI) score of 0-4, CEI was lower in patients with Ishak score of 3-4 compared with 0-2; C: In patients with mHAI score of 5-8, CEI decreased with the progression of fibrosis stage; D-F: When the Ishak scores was fixed as 0-2, 3-4 and 5-6 respectively, the value of CEI was not related to the progression of inflammation. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.001. CEI: Contrast enhancement index; mHAI: Modified histology activity index.

Figure 3 Comparison of four noninvasive methods before and after sustained virological response between patients with fibrosis regression or not. A: Value of contrast enhancement index; B: Value of liver stiffness measurement; C: Value of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index; D: Value or Fibrosis-4 in patients with (Red column) and without (Black column) fibrosis regression at baseline and after achieving sustained virological response (SVR). Red column: Patients had fibrosis regression after achieving SVR (n = 7). Black column: Patients didn’t have fibrosis regression after achieving SVR (n = 14). ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.001. CEI: Contrast enhancement index; SVR: Sustained virological response; LSM: Liver stiffness measurement; APRI: Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index; FIB-4: Fibrosis-4.