title: Primary non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in hypertensive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver disease affecting 15-25% of the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD and the relationship between insulin sensitivity and NAFLD in grade III high and very high cardiovascular additional risk essential hypertensive patients according to the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm.
  
  
  METHODS
  This four-year prospective study was conducted at the Department of Internal Medicine at Cluj-Napoca's Diagnosis and Treatment Centre in Romania. The study included grade III essential hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients were divided into four groups according to the diurnal index (DI) from ABPM monitoring: dipper (D), non-dipper (ND), reverse-dipper (RD), and extreme-dipper (ED). All hypertensive patients underwent 24 ABPM, blood tests and abdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of fatty liver disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five hypertensive patients were included in the study, with 31.42% ND, 11.43% RD, 8.57% ED and 48.57% D. The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in ND, RD and ED when compared to D. When compared to the dipper group of hypertensive patients a statistically significantly higher level of plasma insulin was observed: in non-dipper [86.3±17.9pmol/l vs. 62.2±203pmol/l, p<0.05], in reverse dipper [88.3±18.6pmol/l vs. 62.2±20.3pmol/l] and in extreme-dippers [86.7±16.88pmol/l vs. 62.2±20.3 pmol/l, p<0.05].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The altered dipping status (ND, RD, ED) of hypertension associated with a higher insulin resistance could be the pathogenetic link between the NAFLD and altered blood pressure status. Altered BP status could be a marker of NAFLD in hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Luminita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Latea
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrea
authors.forename: Sorana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolboaca
keywords: Essential hypertension; NAFLD; circadian blood pressure rhythm; insulin resistance; primary non-alcoholic fatty liver disease