title: Hepatic steatosis is associated with an increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although an association between hepatic steatosis and vascular risk factors has been described, direct relationships between fatty liver and atherosclerosis have not yet been investigated. The aim of the present study has been to investigate those relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Study of Health in Pomerania examined a random population sample aged between 20 and 79 years. A study population of 4 222 subjects without hepatitis B and C infections and without liver cirrhosis was available for the present analysis. Hepatic steatosis was defined sonographically and intima-media thickness (IMT) as well as plaque prevalence were estimated by carotid ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence rate of hepatic steatosis was 29.9%. Among subjects aged > or =45 years, an association between hepatic steatosis and IMT of the carotid arteries was found in bivariate analysis, but not after adjustment for atherosclerotic risk factors. Individuals with fatty liver had more often carotid plaques than persons without fatty liver (plaque prevalence rate 76.8% vs 66.6%; P<0.001). This association persisted after adjustment for confounding factors and was predominantly present in subjects with no to mild alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an independent association between hepatic steatosis and carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Metabolic changes due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may explain this relationship.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther Rathenau Str. 48, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany. voelzke@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Volzke
authors.forename: Daniel-M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kleine
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deutscher
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ludemann
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schminke
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: John
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors