Correlation of serum aspartate aminotransferase level to platelet count ratio index with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score

Mamun-Al-Mahtab Mamun-Al-Mahtab,Dulal Chandra Das,Forhadul H Mollah,Mohammed Kamal,Shahinul Alam,Sheikh Mohammad Noor-E-Alam

doi:10.3329/bsmmuj.v12i3.43327

Abstract

In case of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the ratio of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level to platelet count index has been proposed as a non-invasive and readily available tool for the assessment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The study was conducted on 50 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patient (25 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and 25 simple steatosis). The mean (± SD) serum AST level in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group was 55.2 ± 30.1 IU/L whereas in simple steatosis group it was 33.6 ± 20.0 IU/L. The mean platelet count in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group was 303.1 ± 68.7 x 109 /L whereas in the simple steatosis group it was 327.8 ± 66.8 x 109/L. The mean AST platelet ratio index (APRI) score in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group was 0.5 ± 0.3 and in the simple steatosis group it was 0.3 ± 0.2. In conclusion, the APRI was significantly higher in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group than the simple steatosis group.

Highlights

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive triglyceride accumulation in the hepatocytes.[1]
The AST platelet ratio index (APRI) score in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group was 0.5 ± 0.3 whereas it was 0.3 ± 0.2 in simple steatosis group (Table II). It was significantly higher in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group than the simple steatosis group (p=0.009)
This study showed that APRI was significantly higher in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group than in the simple steatosis group

Summary

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive triglyceride accumulation in the hepatocytes.[1] It is an acquired metabolic stress-induced liver disease associated with insulin resistance and genetic susceptibility, sharing histological similarities with alcoholic liver disease in the absence of substantial alcohol consumption or other causes of liver disease.[2] Two broad types are recognized. The simple steatosis is typically stable while the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is characterized by significant cell injury and the potential for progression to cirrhosis.[3] Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease consists of a wide spectrum of conditions, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.[4]. The fatty liver may be diagnosed if the liver echogenicity exceeds that of renal cortex and spleen and there is attenuation of the ultrasound wave, loss of definition of the diaphragm, and poor delineation of the intrahepatic architecture.[5]

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Conclusion