Partnership with Siemens enables research to be carried out by the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic Bahiana

A partnership between the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic of Bahiana and Siemens made possible the use of cutting-edge equipment for the non-invasive diagnosis of hepatic steatosis (fat in the liver) and measurement of liver stiffness. The device, which avoids the need for biopsies, was used in a study by the Liver Care Line, coordinated by hepatologist Paulo Bittencourt, and treated 43 patients at the end of March.

The Acuson Sequoia (there are only two available in Brazil), which came to Salvador exclusively for research purposes. Bahiana, uses artificial intelligence to perform 15 measurements in a single image acquisition, automatically analyzing the quality of the sample. "With elastography technology and software specialized in fat quantification, it identifies patients at risk of progression to fibrosis and cirrhosis, serious diseases associated with hepatic steatosis," says the ultrasonographer and professor at Bahiana, Rosa Brim. Jair Matos, Siemens application coordinator, highlighted that the partnership with Bahiana aims to advance research into metabolic liver diseases. “Not only Bahiana as well as large institutions, such as UFRJ, Unifesp and the Hospital das Clínicas da USP, participate in the study”, says Matos.

In addition to this unprecedented examination, patients selected by the Liver Care Line underwent laboratory tests and magnetic resonance imaging. After the tests, they will be monitored by the multidisciplinary team at the outpatient clinic. The Line is participating in a multicenter study on technologies for risk stratification associated with adverse outcomes related to hepatic steatosis, placing the Bahiana in a prominent position in Brazil on the subject.