Arterial stiffness in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Background. The presence of metabolic-associated pathology, namely obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), significantly accelerates the development of the cardiovascular continuum. This is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke). An important organ damage in hypertension (HTN) is the remodeling of small arteries and an increase in stiffness of large arteries. The relationship between NAFLD, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity (especially abdominal), diabetes, and HTN is well studied, but there is a lack of clinical studies examining changes in arterial stiffness in NAFLD. Aim of the research was to study the parameters of arterial stiffness in patients with NAFLD. Materials and methods. Eighty-two Caucasian patients with NAFLD (mean age (56.8 ± 1.1) years, 59.8 % men) were enrolled. Participants were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 44) — NAFLD and concomitant HTN, group 2 (n = 38) — HTN without NAFLD. All patients underwent a standard general clinical examination, laboratory and instrumental work-up. In addition, all patients were assessed for the parameters of arterial stiffness via non-invasive arteriography. Results. Patients with NAFLD had significantly higher office systolic and diastolic blood pressure (by 15.2 and 10.4 %, respectively, p < 0.01) despite comparable drug therapy. The same trends were observed in relation to the central aortic pressure, which was 19.3 % higher in patients with NAFLD (p < 0.01), and central pulse pressure that was 35.9 % higher than in patients without NAFLD (p < 0.01). Brachial artery augmentation index in NAFLD turned to be elevated compared to patients without NAFLD (p < 0.01), but aortic augmentation index was comparable between groups. The return time interval in group 1 was 50.3 % higher than in group 2 (p < 0.01). Finally, patients with NAFLD had a significant increase in pulse wave velocity by 52.3 % compared to those without NAFLD with average value exceeding 12 m/sec (p < 0.01). Conclusions. There is an association between NAFLD and worse indices of arterial stiffness in patients with concomitant HTN.