Doppler ultrasound assessment of hepatic hemodynamics in hepatic steatosis: a case–control study

Abstract Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated hepatic steatosis, the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, poses a growing public health challenge due to its high global incidence and risk of progression to cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, using Doppler ultrasound, hemodynamic changes in the hepatic artery and the portal vein in patients with hepatic steatosis. Materials and methods This was a case–control study with prospective data collection conducted at the Sokodé Regional Hospital Centre (Togo) between August 2023 and March 2024. The study consecutively included 60 patients with ultrasound signs of diffuse liver steatosis and 60 healthy volunteers with normal liver parenchymal echotexture and echogenicity. Results The maximum systolic velocity of the hepatic artery was significantly higher in patients than in controls (41.72 ± 8.79 cm/s vs. 35.94 ± 7.56 cm/s; p < 0.01). The resistance index (RI) of the hepatic artery was significantly higher in controls than in patients (0.76 ± 0.11 vs. 0.72 ± 0.04; p < 0.01). The maximum portal vein systolic velocity was 17.50 ± 3.55 cm/s in patients and 19.58 ± 2.17 cm/s in controls ( p < 0.001), while the maximum time average velocity (TAMV) was 13.23 ± 2.52 cm/s and 15.39 ± 2.61 cm/s, respectively ( p < 0.01). These variations in the Doppler index of the hepatic artery and the portal vein were correlated with the grade of liver steatosis. Conclusions Doppler ultrasound evaluation of hepatic vessels may serve as a valuable tool to detect early signs of hepatic hemodynamic dysfunction and could help to detect hepatic steatosis.