Ultrasonic estimation on pancreatic fat deposition and its relationship with risk factor for diabetes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the feasibility of evaluating the pancreatic fat deposition with ultrasound, and analyze the relationship of pancreatic fat deposition with the risk factors for diabetes. Methods Two hundred and ninety-four subjects were recruited in the diabetes epidemic survey of Shanghai Sixth Peoples′ Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University from Oct 2015 to Jan 2016, including 111 diabetes mellitus (DM) cases, 54 sugar metabolic abnormalities (IGR) cases, and 129 healthy cases as control group. The general data were collected. Biochemical indicators including ALT, AST and insulin in fasting blood samples were detected, and insulin resistance index (HOMA2-IR) and insulin secretion index (HOMA-IS) were calculated. The pancreatic fat deposition was evaluated by the ultrasound, and pancreas echoes were divided into three levels (1, 2, 3), by comparing with the echo of the rectus. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the pancreatic fat deposition rate, while the Logistic regression was used to figure out the diabetes high-risk factors influencing the pancreatic fat deposition. Results Forty-two subjects were found to have the pancreatic fat deposition in the healthy group (33.3%), of whom 19 cases, 16 cases and 8 cases were categorized into level 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Thirty subjects were found to have the pancreatic fat deposition in the IGR group (55.6%), of whom 14 cases, 11 cases and 5 cases were categorized into level 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Sixty-seven subjects were found to have the pancreatic fat deposition in the DM group (60.4%), of whom 37 cases, 18 cases and 12 cases, were categorized into level 1, 2, 3, respectively. The pancreatic fat deposition rates of the 3 groups were statistically significantly different (P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), HOMA2-IR, high triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) may be the-risk factors for the pancreatic fat deposition in IGR and T2DM patients. Conclusions The ultrasound evaluation on pancreatic fat deposition was feasible, and the pancreatic fat deposition was related to multiple high-risk factors for diabetes. Key words: Pancreas; Ultrasonography; Fat deposition; Diabetes mellitus; Risk factors