Evaluating Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) of patients with Non - Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a risk factor for atherosclerosis and correlation with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of NAFLD on CIMT as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is escalating worldwide due to mount of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence. Non-invasive appraisal of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) by high-resolution carotid B-mode ultrasonography is broadly used for determining atherosclerosis. In this case-control setting, 151 subjects were categorized in three groups: group I counting 49 patients with NAFLD and DM; group II counting 50 non-diabetic NAFLD patients; and the control with 52 normal subjects as group III. The right and left CIMTs and its maximum reading (CIMT max) were deliberated by a skilled sonographist blind to the groups. The sonographic grading of the NAFLD was dogged in groups I and II. Median CIMT max was extensively higher in group I comparing with group II and control group (p<0.001). This disparity between group I and group II were not significant after adjusting for age and history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia (p=0.089). After scheming the confounders, there was a statistically significant between-group I and group II with the control group (p<0.05). There was no significant disparity in median maximal thickness of intima-media in the carotid of group I compare to group II in patients with and without prominent liver enzymes (in both groups, 0.6 mm, p= 0.402). Based on our findings, there is a significant relationship between the presence of NAFLD and atherosclerosis. This association was independent to the Diabetes mellitus presence. The grade of NAFLD and elevated liver function tests had no effect on the severity of atherosclerosis.