title: Association of whole blood viscosity with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent risk factor for increased cardiovascular disease. Altered hemorheological parameters have also been shown to play a crucial role in atherogenesis. Moreover, increased viscosity is observed in insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and stroke. A recent study confirmed that whole blood viscosity (WBV) is a predictor of cardiovascular events.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the association of WBV with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between WBV and NAFLD in 1329 subjects (962 men and 367 women) in a general health examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WBV at low shear stress was elevated in patients with NAFLD. In addition, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and NAFLD increased as WBV quartiles increased both in men and in women. Multiple regression analysis further identified WBV as an independent and significant determinant for NAFLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings showed that WBV at low shear stress is increased in NAFLD. Moreover, WBV at low shear stress is independently associated with NAFLD even after adjusting other cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: International Physical Examination and Healthy Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Tiemin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Tao
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000276:immunology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Whole blood viscosity; metabolic syndrome; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease