Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in a mouse model.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can cause hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases and increases postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Aim: To evaluate T₁ mapping based on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis of hepatic SOS induced by monocrotaline.

Methods: Twenty-four mice were divided into control (n = 10) and experimental (n = 14) groups. The experimental groups were injected with monocrotaline 2 or 6 days before MRI. MRI parameters were: T1 relaxation time before enhancement; T1 relaxation time 20 minutes after enhancement (T_1post); a reduction in T1 relaxation time (△T₁%); and first enhancement slope percentage of the liver parenchyma (ESP). Albumin and bilirubin score was determined. Histological results served as a reference. Liver parenchyma samples from the control and experimental groups were analyzed by western blotting, and organic anion transporter polypeptide 1 (OATP1) was measured.

Results: T_1post, △T₁%, and ESP of the liver parenchyma were significantly different between two groups (all P < 0.001) and significantly correlated with the total histological score of hepatic SOS (r = -0.70, 0.68 and 0.79; P < 0.001). △T₁% and ESP were positively correlated with OATP1 levels (r = 0.82, 0.85; P < 0.001), whereas T_1post had a negative correlation with OATP1 levels (r = -0.83; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: T₁ mapping based on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI may be useful for diagnosis of hepatic SOS, and MRI parameters were associated with OATP1 levels.