INTRARENAL RESISTANCE INDEXES AND NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN UNTREATED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is reaching epidemic proportions with a prevalence in the adult population of approximately 25%. A continuum of hepatic conditions is embraced by NAFLD, from plain steatosis to liver fibrosis that can be assessed by use of surrogate clinical/biochemical scores. Recent studies have reported an association of NAFLD with chronic renal failure and its progression in the general population. Because increasing of intrarenal resistance indexes (IRI) anticipate worsening of renal function in hypertension we investigated their relationships with liver steatosis and fibrosis scores in never treated hypertensive patients. Design and method: In a cross-sectional study of 111 treatment-naïve, essential hypertensive patients we measured IRI and calculated scores of liver steatosis (LFS: liver fatty score; FLI: fatty liver index; HIS: hepatic steatosis index) and liver fibrosis (NFS: NAFLD fibrosis score; APRI: aminotransferase to platelet ratio index; FIB-4: fibrosis 4). Results: IRI were significantly and directly correlated with the LFS (r = 0.240, P = 0.025) while a borderline correlation was observed with NFS (r = 0.206, P = 0.052). No significant relationships were observed with the remaining liver steatosis and fibrosis scores. Multivariate analysis indicated an independent association of IRI and LFS (B = 0.309, P = 0.030). Conclusions: In treatment-naïve hypertensive patients IRI are independently associated with a score of liver steatosis suggesting that NAFLD might contribute to worsening of renal function in these patients.