[The sonographic picture of an echogenic liver is an indicator of pathologic glucose tolerance].
BACKGROUND
Almost all patients in departments of internal medicine routinely undergo abdominal ultrasound examination in which liver changes indicating hepatic steatosis are often detected. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of pathological oral glucose tolerance, manifest diabetes mellitus and other changes indicative of a metabolic syndrome in patients with sonographic signs of hepatic steatosis.


METHODS
577 patients were examined during a period of 6 months: 90 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria.


RESULTS
Among the 90 patients with echodense liver who were included in the study (42 female, 48 male) 36 patients presented with previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (40%). The oral glucose tolerance test was impaired in 19 patients (21%) and in four patients with manifest diabetes mellitus (4%). Among patients with echodense liver a high percentage presented with obesity and impaired fat metabolism.


CONCLUSIONS
The large number of patients with an impaired oral glucose tolerance test converting to manifest diabetes, as well as the large number of patients with manifest disorders of fat metabolism suggest that screening for diabetes should be performed in patients who present with sonographic signs of hepatic steatosis.
Schlottmann
K
K
Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg. klaus.schlottmann@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Baer
A
A
Lock
G
G
Schölmerich
J
J
Palitzsch
K D
KD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008052:Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000150:complications; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography