Relation of Magnetic Resonance Elastography to Fontan Circulatory Failure in a Cohort of Pediatric and Adult Patients

Abstract

Elevated magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)-derived liver stiffness may be associated with worse outcomes in people with Fontan circulation. We sought to evaluate the association between liver stiffness and Fontan failure or portal hypertension. Single center cross-sectional retrospective study of people with Fontan circulation who underwent MRE between 2011 and 2020. The cohort was divided into adult (age\u2009≥\u200921 years) and pediatric (<\u200921 years) groups. Fontan circulatory failure (FF) was defined as any of the following: death, transplantation, ventricular assist device, heart failure symptoms requiring escalation of diuretics. Radiologic portal hypertension was defined as the presence of one or more of the following: splenomegaly, ascites, or gastrointestinal varices. 128 patients were included (average age\u2009=\u200922.6\u2009±\u20098.7 years) and 58 (45%) were children. Median liver stiffness was 4.3 kPa (interquartile range (IQR) 3.8–5.8) for the entire cohort. Thirty patients (23%) developed FF (16 adults, 14 children). Liver stiffness was higher in adults with FF compared to those without FF (4.9 (IQR 4.0–6.0) vs. 4.2 (IQR 3.8–4.7) kPa, p\u2009=\u20090.04). There was no difference in liver stiffness between pediatric patients with and without FF (4.4 (IQR 4.1–5.4) vs. 4.4 (IQR 3.8–5.0), p\u2009=\u20090.5). Adults with radiologic portal hypertension and adults with moderate or severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation had higher liver stiffness than adults without. MRE-derived liver stiffness is associated with atrioventricular valve regurgitation, portal hypertension, and poor clinical outcomes in adults with Fontan circulation. There was no association between liver stiffness and FF in pediatric patients. This difference may be due to the progressive nature of Fontan-associated liver disease.