Open AccessLow prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 1 diabetes is associated with decreased subclinical cardiovascular disease
Author(s) -
SerraPlanas Enric,
Aguilera Eva,
Castro Laura,
Rodríguez Raúl,
Salinas Isabel,
Lucas Anna,
Joaquín Clara,
Puig Rocio,
Mauricio Dídac,
PuigDomingo Manel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of diabetes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.949
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1753-0407
pISSN - 1753-0393
DOI - 10.1111/1753-0407.12539
Subject(s) - medicine , fatty liver , diabetes mellitus , carotid ultrasonography , gastroenterology , subclinical infection , cohort , intima media thickness , type 2 diabetes , coronary artery disease , carotid artery disease , disease , risk factor , cardiology , endocrinology , carotid arteries , carotid endarterectomy
Background Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) has been proposed as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. The present study evaluated the prevalence of NAFLD in a cohort of type 1 diabetic ( T1D ) patients and its potential relationship with subclinical cardiovascular disease ( CVD ). Methods One hundred T1D patients (mean [± SD ] age 39.4 ± 7.8 years, disease duration 21.7 ± 8.6 years) were included in the present cross‐sectional study. All subjects underwent abdominal ultrasonography for detection of NAFLD , carotid ultrasonography to measure the carotid intima–media thickness ( CIMT ) and atheroma plaques, and cardiac tomography for evaluation of the coronary artery calcium score ( CACS ). Results Of the study cohort, 12% had NAFLD and 23% had a CACS >0. The T1D subjects with NAFLD had a greater CIMT than those without NAFLD (0.65 ± 0.17 vs 0.55 ± 0.14 mm; P = 0.029), but there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to CACS , glycemic control, or the presence of carotid plaques. Patients with high liver enzyme concentrations (>20 U/L) had a higher CIMT (0.60 ± 0.16 vs 0.54 ± 0.13; P = 0.04) and there was a higher proportion of altered CACS (17 [73.9%] vs 6 [26.1%]; P = 0.001) and detection of carotid plaques (10 [76.9%] vs 3 [23.1%]; P = 0.014) in this group. Conclusions A low prevalence of NAFLD was found in the T1D cohort that was associated globally with a low proportion of abnormal CVD imaging markers, although these imaging parameters were worse in subjects in whom NAFLD was detected.