Comparison of the Transient Elastography (Fibroscan) Results Among Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients with Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Background and Objective: Diabetes is a risk factor for developing and progressing Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and assessing hepatic fibrosis is necessary to check the prognosis in these patients. Transient Elastography (TE) as a noninvasive, easy to use and reproducible technique could be appropriate in the monitoring of fibrosis among NAFLD patients. This study designed to compare liver stiffness among diabetic and non-diabetic patients by using TE method. Materials and Methods: Overall 67 patients (age range of 20-60 years) with the evidence of fatty liver in sonography and after exclusion of other causes were divided into two groups of diabetics and non-diabetics. Then patients were assessed with TE after lab tests and their lab data and liver stiffness scores were compared between two groups. Results: Demographic characters of both groups were similar (including mean age, sex, BMI, AST, ALT, Total Cholesterol, LDL and TG) (P>0.05). Mean liver stiffness scores in the diabetic group were significantly higher than non-diabetics (P = 0.025). In diabetic patients group, only mean levels of AST and TG in F3 and F4 stiffness score were significantly higher in comparison with lower stiffness scores (P<0.05). Conclusion: Significant liver fibrosis is more frequently present in diabetic patients and TE could be appropriate as a monitoring method in diabetic patients with liver fibrosis.