Relationship between white blood cell count and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
BACKGROUND
Higher levels of white blood cell (WBC) count are known to be associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is also considered a hepatic manifestation of insulin resistance.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to determine the relation between WBC count and the presence of NAFLD based on abdominal sonographic findings.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study with 3681 healthy subjects (2066 men, 1615 women) undergoing medical check-up was conducted. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NAFLD were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analyses across WBC quartiles.


RESULTS
A graded independent relationship between higher levels of WBC count and the prevalence risk of NAFLD was observed. After adjusting for age, smoking status, regular exercise, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol, the ORs (95% CIs) for NAFLD according to WBC quartiles were 1.00, 1.48 (1.10-1.98), 1.59 (1.18-2.14), and 1.84 (1.35-2.51) for men and 1.00, 1.15 (0.67-1.96), 1.88 (1.13-3.11), and 2.74 (1.68-4.46) for women.


CONCLUSIONS
WBC count was found to be independently associated with the presence of NAFLD regardless of classical cardiovascular risk factors and other components of metabolic syndrome.
Lee
Yong-Jae
YJ
Department of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Hye-Ree
HR
Shim
Jae-Yong
JY
Moon
Byung-Soo
BS
Lee
Jung-Hyun
JH
Kim
Jong-Koo
JK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult