Abstract
Purpose: to determine whether the uptake of FP 736-04, a hepatocyte-specific CT contrast agent, is influenced by cirrhotic changes in the liver
Material and Methods: Liver cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Seventy-four animals were divided into three groups comprising: rats with acute BDL; rats with chronic BDL; and normal controls. CT was performed after i.v. infusion of FP 736-04 or saline at a dose of 2 ml/kg b.w., and the mean attenuation in the liver and spleen was measured. the livers from the chronic BDL group were taken for histopathological examination and the extent of the disease was graded according to an arbitrary scale
Results and Conclusion: There was a significant reduction of the native liver attenuation in both chronic and acute BDL groups as compared with the normal controls. FP 736-04 was taken up by the liver parenchyma with a similar degree of enhancement in all three groups
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