Prediabetes Is Associated With Increased Liver Stiffness Identified by Noninvasive Liver Fibrosis Assessment: ElastPQ Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography Study.

Abstract

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have been shown to have increased liver fibrosis (LF) as determined by liver elastography. However, the data on LF incidence in patients with prediabetes are scarce. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of LF and associated parameters in prediabetic patients. Three study groups with equal number of participants defined on the basis of glucose metabolism status were included the following: normal glucose metabolism (NGM), prediabetes, and newly diagnosed type 2 DM (55 patients in each group). Liver stiffness measurements were carried out using liver elastography point quantification, and 7 kPa or greater was considered to denote the presence of LF. Patients were subdivided into 2 groups as those with or without LF. Of the NGM, prediabetes, and type 2 DM subjects involved in the study 3.6%, 27%, and 38% were found to have LF (P < 0.001), respectively. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides, and alkaline phosphatase levels independently correlated with liver stiffness measurements (P < 0.05, for each). In addition, presence of mild or moderate-severe liver steatosis, hypertension, waist circumference, and HbA1c were independent predictors of the LF status. Presence of mild or moderate-severe liver steatosis, hypertension, waist circumference (each 1-cm increment), and HbA1c (each 1% increment) were associated with a 2.78-fold, 7.16-fold, 68%, and 36.7% increased likelihood of LF, respectively. As compared with subjects with NGM, patients with impaired glucose metabolism were more likely to have LF. As in patients with type 2 DM, a significant proportion of patients with prediabetes (27%) have LF, which is closely or independently associated with markers of metabolic syndrome.