Extracellular volume fraction of liver and pancreas using spectral CT in hypertensive patients: A comparative study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Besides the direct impact on the cardiovascular system, hypertension is closely associated with organ damage in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. Chronic liver and pancreatic damage in hypertensive patients may be detectable via imaging. OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between hypertension-related indicators and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) of liver and pancreas measured by iodine maps, and to evaluate corresponding clinical value in chronic damage of liver and pancreas in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A prospective study from June to September 2023 included abdominal patients who underwent contrast-enhanced spectral CT. Normal and various grades of hypertensive blood pressure groups were compared. Upper abdominal iodine maps were constructed, and liver and pancreatic ECVs calculated. Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman analyses evaluated ECV differences and correlations with hypertension indicators. RESULTS: In 300 patients, hypertensive groups showed significantly higher liver and pancreatic ECV than the normotensive group, with ECV rising alongside hypertension severity. ECVliver displayed a stronger correlation with hypertension stages compared to ECVpancreas. Regression analysis identified hypertension severity as an independent predictor for increased ECV. CONCLUSIONS: ECVliver and ECVpancreas positively correlates with hypertension indicators and serves as a potential clinical marker for chronic organ damage due to hypertension, with ECVliver being more strongly associated than ECVpancreas.