# Prediction of portal pressure with liver and spleen MR Elastography and 4D flow phase-contrast MRI

> **NIH NIH R01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2021 · $470,763

## Abstract

Project Summary
Liver cirrhosis has been historically classified as a single histopathologic entity, as it is considered to be the
latest fibrosis stage; however it is well known that cirrhosis encompasses different degrees of clinical severity.
Advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are commonly associated with portal hypertension, which is due to
increased hemodynamic resistance of the liver leading to an increase in portal venous pressure. Portal
hypertension leads to the development of esophageal varices associated with a high risk of bleeding, ascites
and renal dysfunction. The definite diagnosis of portal hypertension is based on the measurement hepatic
venous pressure gradient (HVPG), which is an indirect measure of portal pressure. This technique is invasive
and not widely available. Portal hypertension may also associated with a decrease in portal venous
flow/velocity due to a higher parenchymal resistance to flow, and an increase in hepatic arterial flow secondary
to an arterial buffer response that can be measured with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
According to our recent data, the increased vascular pressure observed in portal hypertension affects liver and
spleen stiffness as well as other viscoelastic properties measured with advanced 3D MR elastography, which
may potentially be used as biomarkers of portal hypertension.
In this proposal, we would like to validate noninvasive imaging biomarkers based on a short multiparametric
MRI protocol for the quantification of changes in viscoelastic properties and flow metrics in the liver and spleen
in relation with portal hypertension. This protocol could potentially be integrated in routine clinical MRI exams,
and could significantly reduce the cost of care by decreasing the need for HVPG measurement, upper
gastrointestinal endoscopies, and could provide a novel risk stratification scoring system of liver disease and
portal hypertension based on MRI. This will be a highly significant progress in patients with liver disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065001
- **Project number:** 5R01DK113272-04
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Bachir Taouli
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $470,763
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-12-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065001

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065001, Prediction of portal pressure with liver and spleen MR Elastography and 4D flow phase-contrast MRI (5R01DK113272-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065001. Licensed CC0.

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