Erdim Sertoglu1, Cemal Nuri Ercin2, Gurkan Celebi2, Hasan Gurel2, Huseyin Kayadibi3, Halil Genc4, Muammer Kara5, Teoman Dogru2. 1. Ankara Mevki Military Hospital, Anittepe Dispensary, Biochemistry Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: erdimsertoglu@gmail.com. 2. Gulhane School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara, Turkey. 3. Adana Military Hospital, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Adana, Turkey. 4. Izmir Military Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Izmir, Turkey. 5. Etimesgut Military Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinicopathological entity which is characterized by the presence of fat droplets in hepatocytes without alcohol consumption, representing a spectrum of hepatic injuries, ranging from simple steatosis (SS) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis. In recent years, experimental and observational studies suggest a role for serum uric acid (SUA) in NAFLD. However, there are few reports investigating SUA in histologically proven NAFLD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship of SUA with liver histology in non-diabetic patients with NAFLD. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 242 male patients with NAFLD (102 with NASH and 140 with SS) were included. Histopathological evaluation was carried out according to Kleiner's scoring scale. Hyperuricemia was diagnosed as SUA of more than 7 mg/dL. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 33.4%. SUA levels in patients with NASH were significantly higher than those of SS (p=0.035). Univariate and multivariate analyses both demonstrated that hyperuricemia had a significant association with younger age [OR (95%CI), 0.930 (0.884-0.979), p=0.005], higher body mass index [OR (95%CI), 1.173 (1.059-1.301), p=0.002] and hepatocellular ballooning [OR (95%CI), 1.678 (1.041-2.702), p=0.033]. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperuricemia is a common finding in patients with NAFLD and is independently associated with early histological findings in this clinically relevant condition. Further longitudinal studies are needed to characterize the role of SUA in the natural history of NAFLD.
OBJECTIVES:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinicopathological entity which is characterized by the presence of fat droplets in hepatocytes without alcohol consumption, representing a spectrum of hepatic injuries, ranging from simple steatosis (SS) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis. In recent years, experimental and observational studies suggest a role for serum uric acid (SUA) in NAFLD. However, there are few reports investigating SUA in histologically proven NAFLD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship of SUA with liver histology in non-diabeticpatients with NAFLD. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 242 male patients with NAFLD (102 with NASH and 140 with SS) were included. Histopathological evaluation was carried out according to Kleiner's scoring scale. Hyperuricemia was diagnosed as SUA of more than 7 mg/dL. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 33.4%. SUA levels in patients with NASH were significantly higher than those of SS (p=0.035). Univariate and multivariate analyses both demonstrated that hyperuricemia had a significant association with younger age [OR (95%CI), 0.930 (0.884-0.979), p=0.005], higher body mass index [OR (95%CI), 1.173 (1.059-1.301), p=0.002] and hepatocellular ballooning [OR (95%CI), 1.678 (1.041-2.702), p=0.033]. CONCLUSIONS:Hyperuricemia is a common finding in patients with NAFLD and is independently associated with early histological findings in this clinically relevant condition. Further longitudinal studies are needed to characterize the role of SUA in the natural history of NAFLD.
Authors: Thomas Jensen; Manal F Abdelmalek; Shelby Sullivan; Kristen J Nadeau; Melanie Green; Carlos Roncal; Takahiko Nakagawa; Masanari Kuwabara; Yuka Sato; Duk-Hee Kang; Dean R Tolan; Laura G Sanchez-Lozada; Hugo R Rosen; Miguel A Lanaspa; Anna Mae Diehl; Richard J Johnson Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2018-02-02 Impact factor: 25.083