High Risk NAFLD among Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Frequency & Effect on Disease Severity

Abstract

Abstract Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disease that significantly affects patient quality of life, interfere with daily activities, physical intimacy, traveling, and self-esteem. Because of its clinical heterogeneity and the unclear etiology of IBS, robust biomarkers and therapeutic targets for IBS are difficult to identify. On the other side, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a common disease worldwide, affecting 25% of the adult population. Aim of the Work The aim of the study is to detect if there is a prevalent relation between those two diseases and the assessment of NAFLD prevalence and severity in IBS patients. Patients and Methods Our study has involved 75 patients with different degrees of IBS syndrome and variable severity patterns of NAFLD. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria for selecting the patients; IBS diagnosed according to modified ROME IV critera regardless of the type either constipation predominance or diarrhea predominance. While NAFLD was mainly detected using abdominal ultrasonography, both were differentiated into three grades determining the severity of each and their correlation. Results Our current study included 75 patients diagnosed with IBS (37 males and 38 females). Mean age of included patients was 42.17 ± 8.3 years. Mean height of included patients was 173.6 ± 9.07 cm, mean weight was 88.02 ± 14.9 Kg while mean BMI was 29.39 ± 4.4. Regarding evaluating the association of IBS with NAFLD there were high statisitical significant assocaiton between both diseases. The study of lipid profile parameters and liver enzymes in relation to IBS grade revealed no-significant association. The study of IBS grade regarding liver enzymes revealed no significant statistical difference between grades of IBS. Study of lipid profile parameters (S.cholesterol, S.triglycerides and LDL) in relation to U/S grade revealed high significant association between increased serum TAG and severe grade of NAFLD. Conclusion IBS had higher frequency of NAFLD. Also, there is significant association between IBS and NAFLD severity.