Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Correlation With Clinical Hormonal and Biochemical Parameters

Authors

  • Constantine Goritsas
  • Konstantinos Spanos
  • Dimitrios Stefanopoulos
  • Georgios Papatheodorou
  • Rodoula Trigidou
  • Petros Garzonis
  • Angeliki Ferti

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2015/hc.v2i3.37

Keywords:

non alcoholic fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis, leptin serum levels, insulin resistance

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

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PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical, biochemical and histological features of 36 patients with NAFLD were analyzed. Insulin and leptin serum levels were measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) and insulin resistance (HOMA index) were calculated. The same parameters were analyzed in 10 healthy controls.

RESULTS: Signs of chronic liver disease and histological findings of advanced fibrosis were detected in 2 patients (5,5%), while hepatomegaly was a frequent finding (21 patients, 58,3%).NASH was confirmed in 21 patients (58,3%).Statistically significant difference was found between patients and controls in BMI (32 vs 25, p=0,002), insulin levels (33,3 vs 9,5, p=0,015) and HOMA index (9,4 vs 2,3 p=0,006). In comparing NASH patients with fatty liver (FL) patients, we observed similar levels (31,1 vs 32) of BMI, while insulin levels were higher in NASH patients (42 vs 22 p=0,044), as well as HOMA (11 vs 7,5) and leptin levels (22 vs 16,6) although this differences did not reach a statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the important role of obesity and insulin resistance in a group of greek NAFLD patients. A positive correlation is also found between severity of liver damage and degree of insulin resistance.

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver damage, ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis.The aim of this study was to describe the variance of clinical and laboratory parameters that could play a role in the development of NASH in a group of patients with NAFLD.

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Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2007)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

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