Assessment of the co-incidence between non alcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid atherosclerosis

ABSTRACT

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is currently the most common cause of abnormal liver biochemistry and cryptogenic cirrhosis. Those with NAFLD have a higher prevalence of atherosclerosis, as shown by increased carotid artery intimal media thickness [CIMT]. The aim of this study is to assess the co-incidence and prevalence between NAFLD and carotid atherosclerosis. In this study seventy-two subjects were categorized into 2 groups. QL 52 patients diagnosed as NAFLD with diabetes mellitus type 2 or obesity or hyperlipedemia. Gil 20 diseased controls diagnosed as NAFLD without other predisposing factor. CIMT and plaque prevalence were estimated by carotid ultrasonography as a single trained operator who was blind to clinical characteristics of participants. The results showed that CIMT by carotid duplex ultrasonography was significantly higher in group A than group B but CIMT did not reveal any significant difference as regards to the etiology of NAFLD. CIMT was significantly higher in cases with bright liver than those with homogenous liver [by abdominal US] in group I and II. CIMT was significantly higher in those with moderate steatosis than those with mild steatosis [in GI and Gil]