Abnormal aortic elasticity in patients with liver steatosis.
OBJECTIVE
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be associated with insulin resistance. We aimed to evaluate elastic properties of aorta in patients with NAFLD.


METHODS
Ninety-two patients with NAFLD and 47 healthy subjects were performed ultrasonographic and echocardiographic examination. Aortic stiffness index (ASI), aortic distensibility (AD) and aortic strain (AS) were compared between healthy subjects and patients and also among grade I and II liver steatosis. Statistical analysis was performed by Independent-Samples t-test, Pearson's correlation test using SPSS 11.0.


RESULTS
ASI was significantly increased whereas AS and AD were reduced (p>0.05) in patients compared to normal ones. ASI was significantly increased while AD and AS slightly increased in patients with grade II liver steatosis compare to grade I. SBP and DBP, cholesterol levels, fasting blood glucose (FBG) were also increased and doppler flow parameters of mitral inflow were abnormally changed in those patients. ASI was positively correlated with FBG, ALT and ALP levels, LDL cholesterol, heart rate and deceleration time of mitral E wave.


CONCLUSIONS
Elastic properties of aorta were abnormally changed in patients with NAFLD. Multiple hemodynamic abnormalities probably associated with insulin resistance may be accountable for abnormal elastic properties of aorta.
Işilak
Zafer
Z
GATA Haydarpaşa Teaching Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Aparci
Mustafa
M
Kardeşoğlu
Ejder
E
Yiğiner
Omer
O
Uz
Omer
O
Sildiroglu
Onur
O
Ozmen
Namik
N
Yalçin
Murat
M
Cingözbay
Bekir Yilmaz
BY
Cebeci
Bekir Sitki
BS
D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004452:Echocardiography; D004548:Elasticity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol