MRE Liver Results

[Livmar]

Hi wonderful community. I would like to provide an update. I continue to be compensated. My MELD is 7. I still have severe portal Hypertension. Last week I had my yearly MRI and this time I requested to have an MRE along with it. They can combine them and do them together. I feel that an MRE is much better than an ultrasound with elastography which was utilized to diagnose my cirrhosis January of 2021.

The ultrasound with elastography just gave me a single rating which for me was Metavir 4 (cirrhosis). It does not give you an idea of your overall liver health. An MRE I have learned (This was my very first MRE) gives you an overall picture of how much of your liver is cirrhotic which is very helpful.

I need help from those of you that have had an MRE and understand the results. This is my understanding and please correct me if you feel this is not correct.

The hard plastic cup they place over your liver while in the MRI coffin is connected via a cable to a box. The plastic cover vibrates over your liver and scanning is divided into 4 slices from top to the bottom of your liver. The results are then captured in this box an overall picture of your liver stiffness is obtained.

Below are my results:

Slice 1: 4.5

Slice 2: 4.9

Slice 3: 5.4

Slice 4: 6.4

This is the table to interpret the results above:

< 2.5kPa = Normal

2.5 to 2.9 = Normal or Inflammation

3.0 to 3.5 = Stage 1 Fibrosis

3.6 to 4.0 = Stage 2 Fibrosis

4.1 to 5.0 = Stage 3 Fibrosis

>5.0 = Cirrhosis

According to the slices and my table, my liver is 50% cirrhotic and 50% which is not? Actually, on the 3rd slice I am just slightly above Fibrosis stage 3, which hopefully I can bring down via my continued diet and exercise. So overall perhaps just 25-30 percent of my liver has cirrhosis?

Am I seeing the glass half full here and being overly optimistic? I am waiting for my doctor to see the results but you know how it is with doctors, they will probably respond with “No abnormalities noted, keep doing what you are doing”. I am left screaming…wwwaaaiiittt I have many more questions. Needless to say, I have learned so much from these forums and all of you that have been through all this. This source information to me is so valuable!

I also had the Fat fraction scale as part of the MRI/MRE which I am still researching as I do not understand it. Looking forward to hearing from you that had MRE’s. Blessings to you all

[nash2 Partner]

Hi Liv

MRE is a pretty good test, particularly since it looks at the whole organ. The doc will discuss it as an overall I imagine but for you the key is whether you have enough functional tissue to support your body and the liver is so tough that it can function with a lot of damage. The strategy going forward is to minimize the work you ask it to do and that is a combination of eating helpful things and not having a lot of extra fat that it has to support. If you can minimize inflammation it will try to heal. The fat fraction is called PDFF and will tell you what percentage of fat your liver contains. Under 5% is the goal. Good luck

Wayne

[Livmar in reply to nash2]

Hi Wayne, Thanks so much for your reply. The only fat I eat these days is extra virgin olive oil. I take 4 tablespoons daily. If I remember correctly this is what your regimen was/is and so I am am praying it works for me also :). I have lost 14% of my body weight in just over a year. I think the recommendation is 10%. Thanks for the fat fraction info. Continued health 🙏.

[nash2 Partner in reply to Livmar]

That is what I have done and I still take olive oil by the tablespoon every day 7 years later. I also take a tablespoon of fish oil daily. The 10% is a minimum effective goal but more is better if you were pretty big so 14% is great. I lost 30% eventually

[Livmar in reply to nash2]

Wow, congratulations. I wasn't that big 187 LBS and am 160 now. I ran a marathon and countless races over my life. I was always pretty active. I very rarely ate garbage because I new since age 18 exactly what it was. I am 66 now. I think what did me in was my love for Mexican and Italian food plus bread.

If you don't mind me asking what kind of fish oil do you take ?

Thanks

[nash2 Partner]

I buy refined bulk Alaskan salmon oil. That gets rid of the fish burps and smell

[Livmar in reply to nash2]

Great thanks! I will look into it 👍.

[lusitania84]

Do they have to inject you with contrast to do the MRE test?

[Livmar in reply to lusitania84]

Hi lusitania84, yes they do but its super easy and you hardly feel anything.

[lusitania84 in reply to Livmar]

Thank you. I have an abdominal Mri coming up I may try to include this test. I'm a little leary about getting that contrast just based on some things I've read but I think it's only an issue if you have advanced kidney disease. Hopefully there won't be any issue. I know people have these test done everyday...