J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2012 Sep;20(3):126-133. 10.4250/jcu.2012.20.3.126.

Relationship between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis Beyond Metabolic Disorders in Non-Diabetic Patients

• Kang JH
• Cho KI
• Kim SM
• Lee JY
• Kim JJ
• Goo JJ
• Kim KN
• Jhi JH
• Kim DJ
• Lee HG
• Kim TI

• KMID: 1808347
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2012.20.3.126

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid artery atherosclerosis beyond metabolic disorders.
METHODS
We studied 320 non-diabetic patients with ultrasonographically diagnosed NAFLD and 313 non-diabetic patients without NAFLD who have less than 40 g alcohol/week drinking history. Carotid atherosclerotic burden was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque. All subjects were divided to the metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to International Diabetes Federation criteria.
RESULTS
NAFLD patients had a significantly increased mean carotid IMT (0.79 +/- 0.18 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.13 mm; p < 0.001) than those without the condition. The prevalence of increased IMT, defined as IMT > or = 1 mm, and carotid plaque were 52.5% and 34.1% in the patients with NAFLD vs. 35.8% and 18.8% in the patients without this condition (p < 0.001). The difference in IMT and prevalence of plaque was also significant even in patients without MetS as well as those with MetS (all p < 0.05). NAFLD-associated adjusted odds ratio for increased IMT was 1.236 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.023-1.467, p = 0.016] without MetS and 1.178 (95% CI, 1.059-1.311, p = 0.003) with MetS. NAFLD-associated adjusted odds ratio of carotid plaque was 1.583 (95% CI, 1.309-1.857, p = 0.024) without MetS and 1.536 (95% CI, 0.512-4.604, p = 0.444) with MetS.
CONCLUSION
NAFLD is significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis in non-diabetic outpatients even without MetS. Carotid screening for NAFLD might be beneficial for assessment of future atherosclerotic complications.

Keyword

Fatty liver; Carotid intima media thickness; Metabolic syndrome

MeSH Terms

Atherosclerosis
Carotid Arteries
Carotid Artery Diseases
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
Drinking
Fatty Liver
Humans
Mass Screening
Odds Ratio
Outpatients
Prevalence
Fatty Liver

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