Iranian South Medical Journal (Sep 2010)
Correlation of Mesenteric Fat Thickness and Liver Fat Accumulation in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Abstract
Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common hepatic disease, and attention is being paid to its association with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The goal of this study was to clarify the role of visceral fat accumulation in Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: 105 patients with probable NAFLD based on clinical and paraclinical evaluations, in the absence of known etiologies of liver diseases were enrolled in the study. Ultrasound was performed for grading of fat accumulationin the liver and measurment of visceral fat thickness. Anthropometric indices and biochemical parameters measured too. Results: Based on liver ultrasound, 13.3% had no evidence of fatty liver, the remaining had: 55.2% mild, 23.8% moderate and 7.6% severe fatty liver. Weight (P=0.001), body mass index (P=0.001), triglyceride (P=0.004), alanine aminotransferase (P=0.011) , aspartate aminotransferase (P=0.009), waist circumference (P=0.001) and mesenteric fat thickness (P<0.001) were correlated significantly with high grade of fatty liver. On the other hand fasting blood glucose, total Cholestrol, LDL, HDL, total and direct bilirubin did not show significant correlation with grading of fatty liver. Mesenteric fat thickness was indipendent factor for hepatic steatosis (R=0.61). Conclusion: Visceral fat is strongly associated with hepatic steatosis. Sonographic measurment of mesenteric fat thickness is an easy, non-invasive and repetitive method for assessment of central obesity.
