Relationship between aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and carotid intima-media thickness in obese adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
There is increasing evidence for an association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in obese adolescents with NAFLD.


METHODS
Seventy-six obese adolescents and 36 lean subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional single-centre study. The obese subjects were divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of fatty liver with high transaminase levels (NAFLD group and non-NAFLD group). Fasting blood samples were assayed for transaminase, glucose, and insulin levels. Insulin resistance was calculated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).


RESULTS
APRI values were higher in both obese groups (NAFLD and non-NAFLD) in comparison with the lean group. The NAFLD group had significantly higher APRI values than the non-NAFLD obese group and the lean group. Carotid IMT was higher in both obese groups (NAFLD and non-NAFLD) in comparison with the lean group. The NAFLD group had significantly higher measurements of carotid IMT than the non-NAFLD group and the lean group. APRI was positively correlated with most of the metabolic parameters (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) and with carotid IMT in the NAFLD obese group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that a significant relationship exists between APRI and carotid IMT in obese adolescents with NAFLD. We suggest that an increased APRI score in obese adolescents with NAFLD can possibly serve to predict a more adverse cardiovascular risk profile.
Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Isparta, Turkey. E-mail: ozgurpirgon@gmail.com.
Ahmet
A
Sert
Ozgür
O
Pirgon
Ebru
E
Aypar
Hakan
H
Yılmaz
Bumin
B
Dündar
D000293:Adolescent; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010976:Platelet Count
D007328:Insulin; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases