Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with significant coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetic patients: a computed tomography angiography study 2：.

Abstract

To investigate whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in type 2 diabetic patients, who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). Between June 2007 and May 2010, a total of 273 type 2 diabetic patients without known liver disease underwent coronary CTA for chest pain were enrolled. Axial, multiplanar, and Maximum intensity projection (MIP) images were used for determining the cardiovascular disease. Liver fat content was measured from unenhanced CT images obtained for calcium scoring. Moderate and severe NAFLD was defined when mean liver attenuation value is ≤40 Hounsfield Unit (HU). Among 273 patients, 76% of the patients (n = 207) had CAD; 48% of them had significant CAD (≥50 stenosis) by coronary CTA. Patients with CAD were older and male gender was predominant. Mean liver attenuation value calculated with CT was 50 ± 12 HU. Mean liver attenuation value was lower in patients with metabolic syndrome compared to patients without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.001). Moderate and severe NAFLD was observed in 22% of the patients (n = 59) with a mean attenuation value of 30 HU. After adjustment of age, gender, obesity, hypertension, smoking status and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels as coronary risk factors, NAFLD was associated with significant CAD (P = 0.04). In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that NAFLD is associated with significant CAD in type 2 diabetic patients. Assessment of liver attenuation by CT represents noninvasive evaluation for detection of asymptomatic individuals with NAFLD during coronary CT angiography.