title: Arterial stiffness in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is related to fibrosis stage and epicardial adipose tissue thickness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with atherosclerosis and reduced vascular compliance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between arterial stiffness measures, the histological severity of NAFLD, and epicardial fat thickness (EFT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 50 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. The histological severity was assessed in all NAFLD patients. Measurements of arterial stiffness [pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx)] were carried out using a Mobil-O-Graph arteriograph system. EFT was assessed by means of echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, NAFLD patients had significantly higher PWV and AIx values. Stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that the liver fibrosis score and EFT were independent predictors of both PWV and AIx values in NAFLD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with NAFLD have an increased arterial stiffness, which reflects both the severity of liver fibrosis and increased EFT values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunbul
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agirbasli
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Silifke State Hospital, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Durmus
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Sivas Numune Hospital, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kivrak
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Fevzi Cakmak Mah, Mimar Sinan Cad. No. 41 Ust Kaynarca, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Fevzi Cakmak Mah, Mimar Sinan Cad. No. 41 Ust Kaynarca, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yucel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ergelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Fevzi Cakmak Mah, Mimar Sinan Cad. No. 41 Ust Kaynarca, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey; Institute of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, Basibuyuk, Maltepe, Istanbul 34840, Turkey. Electronic address: dryusufyilmaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: Arterial stiffness; Augmentation index; Epicardial fat thickness; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Pulse wave velocity