Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Fatty Pancreas in Serbian Patients with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-A Cross Sectional Study.

Tamara Milovanovic,Dragan Popovic,Igor Dumic,Milica Stojkovic Lalosevic,Biljana Milicic,Stefan Kmezic,Andrija Antic,Velimir Markovic,Sanja Zgradic,Sanja Dragasevic,Dusan Saponjski

doi:10.3390/medicina55100697

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the association between presences of fatty pancreas (FP) with the features of metabolic syndrome (MeS) in patients with non–alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to establish a new noninvasive scoring system for the prediction of FP in patients with NAFLD. Material and Methods: 143 patients with NAFLD were classified according to FP severity grade into the two groups and evaluated for diagnostic criteria of MeS. All patients underwent sonographic examination with adiposity measurements and the liver biopsy. Liver fibrosis was evaluated semi-quantitatively according to the METAVIR scoring system and using non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis. Results: Waist circumference (WC) was predictive for increased risk of FP in NAFLD patients. Elevated fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, serum amylase and lipase levels were associated with presence of severe FP (p value = 0.052, p value = 0.007, p value = 0.014; p value = 0.024, respectively). Presence of increased amounts of mesenteric fat was associated with severe FP (p value = 0.013). The results of this study demonstrated highly significant association between NAFLD and presence of FP. The model for predicting the presence of FP was designed with probability value above 6.5. Conclusion: Pancreatic fat accumulation leads to worsening of pancreatic function which in turns exacerbates severity of metabolic syndrome associated with both, NAFLD and NAFPD.

Highlights

IntroductionThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MeS) varies by geographic region, ethnicity and gender
Obesity as a growing public health problem worldwide, is often associated with elevated fasting glucose, dyslipidemia and hypertension-common disorder defined as metabolic syndrome (MeS) [1,2].Medicina 2019, 55, 697; doi:10.3390/medicina55100697 www.mdpi.com/journal/medicinaup to 20% of obese people have no insulin resistance, disorders in carbohydrate metabolism or any of the other conditions associated with obesity, which highlights heterogeneous and complex pathophysiological background of MeS [3].The prevalence of MeS varies by geographic region, ethnicity and gender
Comparing the two groups of patients, the final analysis showed no significant differences in demographic variables, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia or statin use

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of MeS varies by geographic region, ethnicity and gender It increases with age in sex-specific manner and affects over 30% of the adult population in the United States, China and Europe [3,4]. The age-related increase in prevalence of MeS in women occurs as the result of sex-related factors associated with hyperandrogenism, insulin-resistance and menopause [3]. The aim of the study was to determine the association between presences of fatty pancreas (FP) with the features of metabolic syndrome (MeS) in patients with non–alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to establish a new noninvasive scoring system for the prediction of FP in patients with NAFLD. Material and Methods: 143 patients with NAFLD were classified according to FP severity grade into the two groups and evaluated for diagnostic criteria of. Conclusion: Pancreatic fat accumulation leads to worsening of pancreatic function which in turns exacerbates severity of metabolic syndrome associated with both, NAFLD and NAFPD

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion