title: Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now considered a hepatic component of metabolic syndrome (MS). This condition puts patients with NAFLD at an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of atherosclerosis and risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with NAFLDand to study its relationship with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with NAFLD (8 men, mean age 39.90 +/- 8.73 years) and 20 age- and gender-matched controls with chronic viral hepatitis (8 men, mean age 39.30 +/- 8.21 years) were included prospectively in the study. Prevalence of atherosclerosis was studied by measuring the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) on carotid ultrasound and by measuring the flow-mediated dilatation% (FMD%) on brachial artery doppler ultrasound. The risk of cardiac events at 10 years (RDCE 10) was estimated by the Prospective Cardiovascular Munster study (PROCAM) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean CIMT of both the right and left side was significantly higher (0.70 +/- 0.11 mm vs. 0.61+/- 0.08 mm) (p=0.007) and FMD% was significantly lower in patients with NAFLD (9.79 +/- 3.81%) in comparison to controls (17.02 +/- 3.39%) (p<0.0001). The mean PROCAM score was higher in patients with NAFLD (27.50 +/- 13.32 vs.20.10 +/- 7.75) (p=0.067) with the 10-year risk of acute coronary event being 3.9 +/- 6.72% in patients with NAFLD in comparison to 1.44 +/- 0.85% in controls (p=0.042). On post hoc analysis, a higher CIMT, PROCAM score and 10-year risk of acute coronary events in patients with NAFLD was dependent on MS. CONCLUSIOIN: Patients with NAFLD have an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ashwani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guleria
authors.affiliation: Department Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duseja
authors.affiliation: Department Radiodiagnosis, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.affiliation: Department Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ashim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Radhakrishan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhiman
authors.affiliation: Department Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Yogesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.affiliation: Department Endocrinology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhansali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors