Association of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in controlled and uncontrolled diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: The liver has been recognised as a major target of injury in patients with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is characterised by accumulation of hepatic fat in the absence of significant alcohol intake. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) appears to have a role in gluconeogenesis and seems to be more related to hepatic fat accumulation than serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT). Materials and Methods: One-hundred previously diagnosed patients of controlled (HbA1c 7%) diabetes with fatty liver, diagnosed by ultrasound, were taken and their liver function test (LFT) plus glycated haemoglobin were estimated. One-hundred diagnosed cases of controlled and uncontrolled diabetes without fatty liver and normal controls were taken and LFT was done. Result and Discussion: Serum bilirubin, serum albumin, and alkaline phosphatase were within normal range in all the diabetic cases and control. The SGOT was not significantly raised in diabetics. The SGPT was raised in diabetics without fatty liver as compared to normal controls, but not significantly raised and was within normal limits. However, the SGPT was raised significantly in diabetics with fatty liver (P Conclusion: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been consistently associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia. This has raised a concern that treatment with insulin in type 2 diabetes may aggravate liver disease. Routine monitoring of LFTs in patients with type 2 diabetes should be done at the start of drug therapy and in patients if symptoms develop raising concern about hepatic impairment.