UC San Diego

Background

There are limited data regarding the longitudinal association between MEFIB-Index (MRE combined with FIB-4) versus MAST-Score (MRI-aspartate aminotransferase) and hepatic decompensation.

Aim

To examine the longitudinal association between MEFIB-Index versus MAST-Score in predicting hepatic decompensation in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Methods

This was a longitudinal, retrospective analysis of subjects from United States, Japan, and Turkey who underwent a baseline MRE and MRI-PDFF and were followed for hepatic decompensation. Cox-proportional hazard analyses were used to assess the association between MEFIB-Index versus MAST-Score with a composite primary outcome (hepatic decompensation) defined as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and varices needing treatment.

Results

This meta-analysis of individual participants (IPDMA) included 454 patients (58% women) with a mean (±SD) age of 56.0 (±13.5) years. The MEFIB-Index (MRE ≥3.3 kPa + FIB 4 ≥1.6) and MAST-Score (>0.242) were positive for 34% and 9% of the sample, respectively. At baseline, 23 patients met criteria for hepatic decompensation. Among 297 patients with available longitudinal data with a median (IQR) of 4.2 (5.0) years of follow-up, 25 incident cases met criteria for hepatic decompensation. A positive MEFIB-Index [HR = 49.22 (95% CI: 6.23-388.64, p < 0.001)] and a positive MAST-Score [HR = 3.86 (95% CI: 1.46-10.17, p < 0.001)] were statistically significant predictors of the incident hepatic decompensation. MEFIB-Index (c-statistic: 0.89, standard error (SE) = 0.02) was statistically superior to the MAST-Score (c-statistic: 0.81, SE = 0.03) (p < 0.0001) in predicting hepatic decompensation.

Conclusion

A combination of MRI-based biomarker and blood tests, MEFIB-Index and MAST-Score can predict the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with MASLD.