Objective: To evaluate the correlation between right hepatic vein Doppler flowmetry and degree of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis at biopsy in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Materials and Methods: Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 80 patients divided into two groups as follows: 40 patients diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and also submitted to biopsy, and a control group including 40 healthy adults with no risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The Doppler waveform patterns of right hepatic vein were classified into triphasic, biphasic and monophasic. Biopsy specimens were classified according to the degree of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Results: Triphasic flow was observed in 38 (95%) patients of the control group and in nine (56%) patients with mild steatosis, whereas in patients with severe steatosis, the pattern was monophasic in 60%. A statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of Doppler patterns (p < 0.01). A significant negative correlation between the Doppler waveform pattern of right hepatic vein and steatosis degree was observed (r = 0.57; p < 0.01). Conclusion: An abnormal Doppler waveform pattern of right hepatic vein in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may suggest the presence of decreased vascular compliance caused by fatty infiltration.

Keywords: Fatty liver; Hepatic steatosis; Ultrasonography; Doppler flowmetry; Hepatic vein; Liver biopsy.