Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39511127›Full record

ArticleThe international journal of cardiovascular imaging2025

Magnetic resonance elastography is useful to determine the severity of liver fibrosis according to liver biopsy in post-fontan patients.

Saviga Sethasathien, Krit Leemasawat, Rekwan Sittiwangkul, Krit Makonkawkeyoon, Apinya Leerapun, Sarawut Kongkarnka, Nakarin Inmutto, Suchaya Silvilairat

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The international journal of cardiovascular imaging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Efficacy of Magnetic Resonance Elastography in Fontan-Associated Liver Disease.JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Saviga SethasathienDivision of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
Krit LeemasawatDivision of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Rekwan SittiwangkulDivision of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
Krit MakonkawkeyoonDivision of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
Apinya LeerapunDivision of Gastroenterology Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Sarawut KongkarnkaDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Nakarin InmuttoDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Suchaya SilvilairatDivision of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. asilvilairat@gmail.com.

Funding

Thailand Science Research and Innovation-Chiang Mai University Fundamental Fund 2565
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe reliability of various modalities for assessing and monitoring Fontan-associated liver disease compared to liver biopsy remains an intriguing subject of inquiry. Our objective was to assess the efficacy of multiple modalities in comparison to liver histology for evaluating liver fibrosis in post-Fontan patients.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study involving Fontan patients without known liver disease. Eligible patients underwent cardiac and hepatic evaluations, including ultrasound liver elastography, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) of the liver, computerized tomography (CT) scan of the upper abdomen, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and liver biopsy. The severity of liver fibrosis was categorized using the METAVIR score derived from liver biopsy results: F0/F1 indicated no or mild fibrosis, F2 indicated significant fibrosis, F3 indicated advanced fibrosis and F4 indicated cirrhosis.

resultsA total of 38 patients (mean age 21 ± 6.5 years, 52.6% female) were included in the cross-sectional study, with a mean time elapsed since the Fontan operation of 13 years. Parameters obtained from echocardiography, ultrasound liver elastography, and CT scan of the upper abdomen did not exhibit significant differences among the groups. Notably, liver biopsy revealed advanced cirrhosis in 23 out of 38 patients and none were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the factor significantly associated with significant liver fibrosis or cirrhosis in post-Fontan patients was liver stiffness with MRE > 4.4 kPa [OR 13.5 (95% CI 1.2-152.2)].

conclusionsOur findings suggest that post-Fontan patients with liver stiffness of MRE > 4.4 kPa should undergo further investigation. These results contribute to understanding the liver fibrosis assessment in post-Fontan patients and highlight the importance of MRE in predicting significant liver disease.

Indexed as

Elasticity Imaging TechniquesFontan ProcedureHeart Defects, CongenitalLiverLiver CirrhosisAdolescentAdultBiopsyChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePredictive Value of TestsReproducibility of ResultsRisk FactorsCirrhosisFontanLiver fibrosisMagnetic resonance elastography

Identifiers

PMID39511127

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.