Abstract
(1) Background: The role of adipokines such as adiponectin and visfatin in metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Therefore, we aim to assess serum adiponectin and visfatin levels in MAFLD patients and associated cardiovascular parameters. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 80 participants (40 MAFLD patients, 40 controls), recruited between January and September 2020, was conducted, using both hepatic ultrasonography and SteatoTestTM to evaluate hepatic steatosis. Echocardiographic and Doppler parameters were assessed. Serum adipokines were measured using ELISA kits. (3) Results: Adiponectin and visfatin levels were not significantly different in MAFLD vs. controls. Visfatin was associated with mean carotid intima-media thickness (p-value = 0.047), while adiponectin was associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p-value = 0.039) and E/A ratio (p-value = 0.002) in controls. The association between adiponectin and E/A ratio was significant in the univariate analysis at 95% CI (0.0049–0.1331, p-value = 0.035), but lost significance after the multivariate analysis. Although LVEF was not associated with adiponectin in the univariate analysis, significant values were observed after the multivariate analysis (95% CI (−1.83–−0.22, p-value = 0.015)). (4) Conclusions: No significant difference in serum adiponectin and visfatin levels in MAFLD patients vs. controls was found. Interestingly, although adiponectin levels were not associated with LVEF in the univariate analysis, a significant inversely proportional association was observed after the multivariate analysis.
Highlights
Fatty liver disease is mainly associated with structural and functional liver alterations, as well as increased liver-related morbidity and mortality as a result of possible progression to cirrhosis, liver failure and, hepatocellular carcinoma, it is well known to exert several extrahepatic manifestations [1,2,3,4]
Decreased adiponectin levels and increased visfatin levels are known to be associated with several cardiovascular diseases, these parameters were not assessed in metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) patients for their possible use as potential biomarkers
As we reported in our results in MAFLD patients, several alterations in echocardiographic parameters have been found in obese patients, including LA enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy, as well as increased cardiac output and stroke volumes representing a physiological adaptation to increased metabolic needs [47]
Summary
Fatty liver disease is mainly associated with structural and functional liver alterations, as well as increased liver-related morbidity and mortality as a result of possible progression to cirrhosis, liver failure and, hepatocellular carcinoma, it is well known to exert several extrahepatic manifestations [1,2,3,4]. MAFLD is defined by the presence of fatty liver, in addition to one of the following three criteria: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or confirmed metabolic risk dysregulation [8,9]. Multiple studies reported fatty liver disease as an independent risk factor associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related morbidity and all-cause mortality [10,11]. This association can be attributed to several possible pathogenic factors increasing the CV risk in MAFLD, including IR, systemic inflammation, cytokines, oxidative stress, adipokines, hepatokines, genes and intestinal microbiota [12]. Other studies demonstrated that fatty liver disease per se is not causally related to an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, implying an essential role of plasma lipids in this relationship
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
