Andersson A, Kelly M, Imajo K, et al. - Findings demonstrate suitability of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) derived biomarkers cT1 (corrected T1) and liver fat for identifying non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and they have important clinical utility to assist in guiding appropriate employment of interventions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NASH clinical care pathways.

• This study includes data from five clinical studies (n=543) with participants suspected of NAFLD, to determine the clinical utility of cT1 vs MRI liver fat for detection of NASH participants with NAS ≥4 and F ≥2 (“high-risk” NASH).

• With increased NAFLD severity, there was a stepwise increase in cT1 and MRI liver fat, and NASH participants with fibrosis grade ≥2 (high-risk NASH) had significantly higher cT1.

• For identification of NASH, cT1 showed diagnostic accuracy (AUROC) of 0.78, it was 0.78 for liver fat, and was 0.82 with combination of cT1 and MRI liver fat.

• Compared with liver fat, cT1 affords a better non-invasive tool to detect NASH patients at greatest risk of disease progression.