Comparison of Resistive Index, Pulsatility Index, and Arterial Waveform at the Comparison of Resistive Index, Pulsatility Index, and Arterial Waveform at the Site of Hepatic Artery Bifurcation in Patients with and without Nonalcoholic, Non-Diabetic Fatty Liver

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common. Noninvasive methods to assess fibrosis stage are limited, and biopsy remains the gold standard. We aimed to compare the Doppler ultrasound indices (resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and arterial waveform) at the place of division of the hepatic artery in patients with and without nonalcoholic non-diabetic fatty liver. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved patients with fatty and normal liver. For this purpose, 50 patients with fatty liver with a grade higher than II and confirmed and 50 patients without signs of fatty infiltration in sonography were examined by standard Doppler sonography from the location of the hepatic artery. The patients waveform, RI, and PI were investigated based on this. The evaluated indicators were analyzed as the average of three consecutive measurements. Finally, the results obtained in the two groups were compared using SPSS statistical software. Results: One hundred patients were equally divided into two groups with and without NAFLD. The two groups were similar in age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) (all P-values ​​ 0.05). In the case group, the average RI was 0.5 ± 0.08; in the control group, it was 0.63 ± 0.04 (P-value 0.001). PI was 0.5 ± 0.08 in the case group and 0.63 ± 0.04 in the control group (P-value 0.001). In the case group, 74% of the subjects showed a Tardus parvus wave pattern, while in the control group, 100% had a normal wave pattern (P-value 0.001). Conclusion: RI, PI, and arterial waveform at the site of division of the hepatic artery can be used to diagnose these patients who need a biopsy. They reduce the liver.