Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in asymptomatic obese women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical characteristics of NAFLD in asymptomatic obese women.


METHODS
A total of 457 asymptomatic obese women were enrolled in a cross-sectional study and allocated into groups with and without NAFLD. Irrespective of ALT levels, diagnosis of NAFLD was established by ultrasonographic findings; irrespective of fibrosis, NASH was defined by hepatic histological changes.


RESULTS
One hundred ninety five (42.7%) women had elevated ALT levels. Diagnosis of NAFLD was established in 228 (49.9%) women; among women with NAFLD, 34 (14.9%) have ALT levels within the normal range. On the other hand, based on the healthy range for ALT levels (19 UI/L), 336 (73.5%) women had elevated ALT, but only 2 (0.9%) women with NAFLD exhibited ALT levels within normal healthy values. Furthermore, 93 (41%) women who had AST/ALT levels (3) 1 underwent liver biopsy; of these, 90 (96.8%) had diagnosis of NASH and 3 (3.2%) of hepatic cirrhosis. Women with NAFLD were more obese and have higher fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, ALT, and AST levels than obese women without NAFLD. Seventy six (16.6%) women had diagnosis of diabetes; of these 47 (61.8) in the NAFLD group.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study support the statement that women with NAFLD have an adverse metabolic profile. Furthermore, our results show that hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and markers of liver injury such as AST/ALT > or = 1 may be useful for early recognition of NAFLD.
Rodriguez-Hernandez
Heriberto
H
Mexican Social Security Institute, Durango, Mexico.
Cervantes-Huerta
Miriam
M
Gonzalez
Jose Luis
JL
Marquez-Ramirez
María Dolores
MD
Rodriguez-Moran
Martha
M
Guerrero-Romero
Fernando
F
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase