Quantitative assessment of the dynamic changes of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury with contrast enhanced ultrasound in rabbit / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the dynamic changes of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury ( IRI) by contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in rabbit model and investigate its clinical value . Methods Sixty rabbits were randomly assigned into seven groupssham operation group and 6 hepatic IRI groups ( 0 .5 h ,2 h ,6 h ,12 h ,24 h ,72 h) . The rabbits of hepatic IRI group established as followsthe hepatic artery , portalvein and bile duct in the portal triad to the left liver lobes were interrupted for 60 min with a vascular clip and then reflow the blood . The perfusion imaging of left liver lobe was observed and then the peak signal Intensinty ( PI) ,time to peak intensinty ( Tp) ,area under the curve ( AUC) ,and mean transit time ( MTT ) were calculated . The rabbits were sacrificed and blood samples were withdrawn for the measurement of liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase ( AST) and alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) ,liver samples from the left lateral were collected for the measurement of myeloperoxidase ( MPO) and histologic examination . The correlation between parameters of CEUS and the test results above were analyzed . Results There were significant differences in the parameters of CEUS between hepatic IRI group and sham group ( P < 0 .001) . PI and AUC showed a decreased tendency and the lowest values were measured in the 24 h group .Tp and MTT showed a upward tendency and the maximum values were measured in the 24 h group . The parameters of CEUS showed correlation with ALT ,AST and MPO ( P < 0 .001 ) . AUC showed significant correlation with ALT ,AST and MPO ( r = - 0 .702 , - 0 .802 , - 0 .846 ;all P < 0 .001 ) . Conclusions CEUS can assess liver functional and pathological changes in the process of hepatic IRI in real-time ,dynamically ,rapidly ,noninvasively and objectively . It is expected to replace the invasive pathological inspection . AUC is the best index for evaluating hepatic IRI in parameters of CEUS .