title: Increased whole blood viscosity associated with arterial stiffness in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent risk factor for increased cardiovascular disease. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a marker for early atherosclerotic changes. Recently, the effect of changed blood rheology on atherosclerosis has received attention. A study confirmed that whole blood viscosity (WBV) is a predictor of cardiovascular events. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association of WBV with baPWV in patients with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, the relationship between WBV and baPWV was investigated in 2032 participants (1035 men and 997 women) with NAFLD in a general health examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different metabolic parameters were compared across WBV (3/s) quartiles. The mean values of baPWV gradually increased with WBV (3/s) quartiles. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that WBV (3/s) is a significant determinant for increased baPWV both in men and in women (for male, β = 0.229; P < 0.001; for female, β = 0.672; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings showed that baPWV elevated as WBV (3/s) increased in NAFLD. Moreover, WBV (3/s) is independently associated with baPWV even after adjusting other cardiovascular risk factors. Early detection of abnormal WBV levels at low shear rate should warrant for early search of undetected arterial stiffness in patients with NAFLD.
authors: Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors: Kai-Jiang
authors: KJ
authors: Yu
authors: Mei-Jie
authors: MJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Rui-Tao
authors: RT
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: arterial stiffness; brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; whole blood viscosity