Triglyceride-glucose index as a criterion for the steatosis of the liver

Abstract

According to the current scientific literature, a high level of triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) is associated with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, however, its level and diagnostic value in patients with metabolic-associated steatosis of the liver (MASL) without steatohepatitis is not determined. The aim of investigation is to evaluate the level of TyG in patients with a cardiorheumatic profile with concomitant MASL and study its correlations, Matherial and methods. 224 patients, 99 men and 125 women, with coronary artery disease, unstable angina (44,64%), acute rheumatic fever (25,89%), hemorrhagic vasculitis (29,47%) were examined. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of MASL. The control group included 16 people without cardio-rheumatic diseases with an intact liver. The TyG was determined in all of them, according to Huanan S. (2020) additionally. The results were analyzed statistically.Results. The value of TyG was significantly higher in patients with cardiac and rheumatological diseases than in the control group with an intact liver without lesions of the heart or connective tissue. In the case of presence of MASL, the level of TyG was consistently higher (significantly in patients with unstable angina 5,97±1,05 vs 3,46±0,48; p<0,05). The level of TyG ranged from 4,0 to 6,0 in patients with concomitant MASL. According to the correlation analysis, TyG was associated with total cholesterol, its fractions of low and very low density, acute phase indicators, transaminases, and systolic blood pressure. Conclusions. An increase in TyG up to 4,0-6,0 is characteristic for MASL, unfavorable is an increase in TyG, which is associated not only with the increasing lipid distress syndrome, but also with the activation of systemic inflammation and local inflammation in the liver tissue, which transfers steatosis into steatohepatitis.