Correlation between transient elastography controlled attenuation parameter and metabolic syndrome components

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between Fibroscan® data controlled attenuation parameter(CAP), liver stiffness measurement(LSM), and the risk of metabolic syndrome(MS). Methods A total of 817 subjects in this year′s staffs physical checkup screening for fatty liver were recruited. Questionnaires were filled, anthropometries including neck and waist circumferences were collected, and fasting glucose, lipid profiles, insulin, adiponectin levels were measured, CAP and LSM were recorded using FibroScan®. The subjects were divided into MS and control groups. Clinical characteristic parameters were compared, and independent predictors for MS were analyzed. Results There were 231 subjects(28.3%) in the MS group and 586(71.7%) in the control group. As compared to the controls, MS group had significantly higher CAP, LSM, neck circumference, and fasting insulin levels [(277±48 vs 237±44)dB/m, (4.9±2.2 vs 4.1±1.0)kPa, (37.1±3.3 vs 34.1±3.0)cm, (9.3±4.7 vs 5.7±2.9)μIU/ml, all P<0.01], whereas adiponectin levels were lower [(10.6±8.8 vs 18.7±14.9)ng/ml, P<0.01]. With the accumulation of MS components, CAP and LSM increased. When CAP and LSM were divided into quartiles, the number of MS components increased with increasing quartiles, along with proportions and odds ratios for the occurrence of MS, and CAP showed a stronger correlation with MS than LSM. Binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that CAP, age, neck circumference, adiponectin, and fasting insulin levels were independent predictors for MS. Even with no MS component, subjects with CAP≥248 dB/m had elevated body mass index, neck and waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, increased fasting insulin, triglyceride, uric acid and reduced adiponectin levels. Conclusion CAP showed a close relationship with MS. Increased CAP was associated with increased body weight, dyslipidemia, elevated uric acid, and fasting insulin, whereas reduced adiponectin even before the occurrence of MS. Key words: Metabolic syndrome; Transient elastography; Controlled attenuation parameter; Liver stiffness measurement