Study of HepaFat-Scan underway to diagnose NAFLD in children

Resonance Health announced a new collaboration with Emory University in Atlanta, which will conduct a validation study using HepaFat-Scan technology for diagnosing children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a press release.

HepaFat-Scan (Resonance) is a non-invasive medical imaging solution that utilizes MRI to accurately measure liver fat. The study will include the use of HepaFat-Scan on up to 50 pediatric patients enrolled at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The study is important in consolidating the value of HepaFat-Scan in providing an accurate liver fat measurement in NAFLD patients of all ages, according to Resonance Health.

“We have worked with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a number of years in the provision of our FerriScan service to measure liver iron overload,” Sander Bangma, general manager of Resonance Health, said in the release. “We are delighted that we can now further our collaboration with such a highly-respected institution to provide the HepaFat-Scan service in this study under the direction of a leading clinician in the field of pediatric NAFLD.”

The current standard for assessing liver fat is liver biopsy which can be painful, invasive and lacking in sensitivity due to its subjective and semi-quantitative nature, according to the release, and HepaFat Scan can present an easier option for clinicians in measuring liver fat.

“HepaFat Scan can assist clinicians in their diagnosis and treatment of patients, providing them with accurate information at an earlier disease stage,” Bangma said. “This study intends to show that this information will lead to improved patient outcomes. Collecting data like this may ultimately support inclusion of HepaFat-Scan in clinical guidelines for routine care of NAFLD patients.”

Results are expected to be announced in 12 to 18 months, Resonance Health said.

According to the Resonance website, HepaFat-Scan is the only method with regulatory clearances by the FDA and in Europe and Australia, for quantitative measurement of liver fat that has been clinically validated against independent measurements of the volume fraction of fat in liver biopsy specimens in a clinical study. – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosure: Bangma is employed by Resonance.