Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objective: The exact incidence of hepatosteatosis in pa­tients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) is unknown; also there is no valid, simple and inexpensive method to evaluate and follow-up for patients with MetS. In our study, we aimed to demonstrate the frequency of hepatosteatosis, and wheth­er demonstrate presence and degree of steatosis using liver ultrasonography may provide additional benefit for evaluat­ing and following-up in MetS patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Methods: One hundred and twelve patients with MetS were included to the study. Patients divided into three groups; con­trol group (n= 36) consisted of patients without hepatosteato­sis, group 1 (n=43) consisted of patients with grade 1 hep­atosteatosis. Finally, group 2 (n= 33) consisted of patients with grade 2 hepatosteatosis. The relationship between the presence and degree of the hepatosteatosis and MetS pa­rameters were analyzed.
Results: The incidence of hepatosteatosis was found 69.4% in patients with MetS. There were significantly differences in HOMA-IR, AST, ALT and GGT levels among control group and group 1 (p<0.05 for all). There were also significantly dif­ferences in waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, fast­ing insulin, HOMA-IR, AST, ALT, GGT, ferritin, CRP, sedimen­tation, uric acid and microalbuminuria levels among control group and group 2 (p<0.05 for all). Blood pressures and lipid profiles were similar among all groups (p>0.05 for all). Be­sides, there were significantly differences in waist circumfer­ences, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, GGT, uric acid, CRP levels among group 1 and 2 (p<0.05 for all).
Conclusion: Our study indicates that MetS related parame­ters; especially insulin resistance, were significantly different in patients with hepatosteatosis compared to patients with­out hepatosteatosis. Because of the different measurment of waist circumferences among groups, we recommend to use liver ultrasonography and waist circumference together to evaluate and follow-up for MetS patients with hepatoste­atosis.