Efficacy of MRI-PDFF, FibroTouch, and FAST score in diagnosing the occurrence of NASH in patients with NAFLD

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), FibroTouch, and Fatty Liver Index based on Aspartate Aminotransferase and Total Bilirubin (FAST) score in diagnosing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods A total of 91 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology from March 2019 to March 2024 were selected. According to whether non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) occurred or not, they were divided into the non-NASH group (n=65) and the NASH group (n=26). Based on the presence of high-risk NASH, they were divided into the non-high-risk group (n=80) and the high-risk NASH group (n=11). All patients underwent MRI-PDFF measurements, liver histopathological examination, and FAST score assessment. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) were obtained by FibroScan. Logistic regression analysis was performed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to analyze the diagnostic efficacy for NASH in NAFLD patients. Results The LSM [(9.6±2.3) kPa] and FAST score (0.5±0.2) in the NASH group were significantly higher than those in the non-NASH group [(7.1±1.2) kPa and (0.3±0.1)kPa], respectively with P<0.05. The LSM [(10.2±2.6) kPa] and FAST score (0.5±0.2) in the high-risk NASH group were significantly higher than those in the non-high-risk group [(6.6±1.3) kPa and (0.2±0.1)kPa], P<0.05. Logistic regression analysis indicated that LSM and FAST scores were influencing factors for the development of NASH in NAFLD patients (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the combined diagnostic AUC value for LSM and FAST scores was 0.978, with a sensitivity of 90.0% and a specificity of 98.0%, which was significantly better than the diagnosis using each indicator alone. Conclusion Fibrotouch-derived LSM and FAST scores have good diagnostic efficacy for patients with NASH, and their combination enhances the diagnostic efficacy.

Key words: MRI-PDFF, FibroTouch, FAST score, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

MA Zhi-qiang, ZHAN Hao-hui, LIANG Yan, LIU Jing-jing. Efficacy of MRI-PDFF, FibroTouch, and FAST score in diagnosing the occurrence of NASH in patients with NAFLD[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2026, 31(1): 71-74.

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