Uses Deuterium Metabolic Imaging to Measure the Rate of Fatty Acid Beta-Oxidation in the Liver
This non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure measures fatty acid beta-oxidation, which is an indicator of early-stage non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and its precursor, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Nearly 25 percent of adults in the United States have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and up to 6.5 percent of them have the more severe form of the disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The early form of the disease usually causes no signs or symptoms, but if diagnosed early, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is treated by changes in diet, weight, and exercise routines. Once the disease progresses to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrotic liver tissue accumulates at twice the rate, potentially leading to liver cirrhosis that is only treatable by a liver transplant. Unfortunately, available diagnostic tests are invasive or detect only late stages of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a non-invasive diagnostic procedure using deuterium metabolic imaging to measure fatty acid beta-oxidation for use in the detection of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and early-stage non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Deuterium metabolic imagine combines deuterium (heavy hydrogen) magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging with oral intake or intravenous infusion of nonradioactive substrates to generate 3D metabolic maps. The procedure allows for early detection of these liver diseases, which enables effective early intervention.
Application
Non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure for the early detection of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Advantages
- Measures hepatic beta-oxidative rates, enabling early intervention and preventing liver fibrosis and the need for liver transplants
- Uses non-invasive diagnostic imaging, making both testing frequency and patient testing compliance more likely
Technology
This non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure uses deuterium metabolic imaging to measure fatty acid beta-oxidation in the liver. Both non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis exhibit increased fatty acid beta-oxidation in the liver. Patients take deuterium-labeled precursors orally or intravenously, causing the patient’s liver to produce hydrogen deuterium oxide as a byproduct of fatty acid beta-oxidation. This byproduct output can be measured using magnetic resonance imaging.
Brochure
