title: Steatosis Grade is the Most Important Risk Factor for Development of Endothelial Dysfunction in NAFLD.
abstract: It is shown that there are strong associations between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of our study was to reveal whether steatosis or fibrosis score is more important in the development of endothelial dysfunction in patients with NAFLD in a prospective manner.This cross-sectional study included 266 subjects. These subjects were divided into 2 groups depending on presence of hepatosteatosis sonographically. Patients with hepatosteatosis were also divided into 3 subgroups depending on degree of steatosis: grade 1, 2, and 3. In all patients, Aspartate aminotransferase-to-Platelet Ratio Index and Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) scores were calculated. In addition, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measurements were recorded.There was NAFLD in 176 (66.2%) of 266 patients included. There were no significant differences in sex and age distributions between patients with NAFLD (group 1) and controls without NAFLD (group 2) (P = 0.05). Mean Aspartate aminotransferase-to-Platelet Ratio Index score was significantly higher in group 1 compared with the control group (P = 0.001), whereas no significant difference was detected regarding FIB4 scores between groups (P = 0.4). Mean FMD value was found to be significantly lower in group 1 (P = 0.008). Patients with grade 3 hepatosteatosis had significantly lower FMD values than those with grade 1 steatosis and controls (P = 0.001). In univariate and multivariate analyses in group 1, no significant difference was detected regarding mean FMD measurements (P = 0.03). Again, no significant difference was detected in mean FMD measurement between FIB4 subgroups among patients with NAFLD and the whole study group (P = 0.09).The endothelial dysfunction is associated with steatosis in patients with NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: From the Keçiören Education and Training Hospital (FS, MU, SB, AY, AK, ZA, YN), Gastroenterology Department; and Keçiören Education and Training Hospital (SO, BY), Cardiology Department, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferdane
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sapmaz
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzman
authors.forename: Sebahat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basyigit
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Bunyamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yeniova
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kefeli
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asilturk
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nazligül
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult