T1-weighted dual-echo MRI for fat quantification in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Table 1 Clinical and laboratory characteristics of children with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Characteristics	NAFLD (n = 25)	No NAFLD (n = 25)
BMI, kg/m2	28.4 (26.4-30.3)a	25.6 (24.4-26.8)
BMI-Standard deviation score	2.20 (2.02-2.30)a	2.01 (1.92-2.17)
Waist circumference, cm	96.9 (91.8-102.1)b	85.2 (80.3-89.0)
Systolic BP, mmHg	117 (112-122)b	107 (105-109)
Diastolic BP, mmHg	70 (67-74)b	68 (65-70)
Aspartate aminotransferase, U/L	45 (33-58)c	24 (20-28)
Alanine aminotransferase, U/L	73 (55-91)c	21 (18-25)
γ-glutamyl transferase, U/L	31 (23-39)c	13 (12-14)
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	162 (143-181)	168 (146-190)
HDL cholesterol, mg/dL	42 (38-49)	40 (37-43)
Triglycerides, mg/dL	161 (115-207)b	112 (61-134)
Glucose, mmol/L	4.89 (4.69-5.10)	4.88 (4.77-5.02)
Insulin, μU/mL	31.2 (21.9-40.6)a	20.1 (16.2-24.1)
HOMA-IR values	4.27 (3.40-5.10)a	3.45 (2.97-4.01)
Hepatic fat fraction, %	19.0 (15.1-27.4)c	2.0 (1.3-2.5)

Results are expressed as n (%), mean (95% CI), or geometric mean (95% CI) for log-transformed variables.

^aP < 0.05,

^bP < 0.01,

^cP < 0.0001. BMI: Body mass index; NAFLD: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; BP: Blood pressure; HDL: High density lipoprotein; HOMA-IR: Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.

Table 2 Features of the liver biopsies of the 25 children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

	Grade or stage	n	%
Steatosis	0	-	-
	1	9	36
	2	9	36
	3	7	28
	Total	25	100
Lobular Inflammation	0	-	-
	1	15	60
	2	9	36
	3	1	4
	Total	25	100
Portal inflammation	0	4	16
	1	20	80
	2	1	4
	Total	25	100
Ballooning	0	9	36
	1	12	48
	2	4	16
	Total	25	100
Fibrosis	0	7	28
	1	8	32
	2	9	36
	3	1	4
	4	-	-
	Total	25	100

Table 3 Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging

Steatotic hepatocytes	≥ 5%	> 33%	> 66%
Cutoff	4.85	9	19
AUC	0.98 (95% CI, 0.98-1.0)	1	1
Sensitivity (%)	95.8	100	100
Specificity (%)	100	100	100

AUC: Area under the curve.