Hepatic fibrosis assessed using transient elastography independently associated with coronary artery calcification. Issue 10 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: You, Seng Chan; Kim, Kwang Joon; Kim, Seung Up; Kim, Beom Kyung; Park, Jun Yong; Kim, Do Young; Ahn, Sang Hoon; Han, Kwang‐Hyub
• Is Part Of: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. Volume 30:Issue 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1536
• Page End: 1542
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12992
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0815-9319

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jgh12992-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and Aim</title> <p>Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a close relationship with coronary atherosclerosis. We investigated the association between coronary atherosclerosis and liver fibrosis, represented as coronary artery calcification (CAC) score, and live stiffness (LS) value assessed using transient elastography (TE), respectively, in patients with NAFLD.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12992-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Between January 2013 and March 2014, a total of 285 asymptomatic subjects without chronic liver and ischemic heart diseases who underwent comprehensive medical health check‐up were recruited. NAFLD was defined as controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥ 250 dB/m on TE.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12992-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The median age of the study population (men 161 and women 124) was 56 (interquartile [IQR], 50–63) years. Of these, 142 (49.8%) subjects had NAFLD. Among subjects with NAFLD, CAC score was independently correlated with the male gender (β = 0.230; <italic>P</italic> = 0.010), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = 0.220; <italic>P</italic> = 0.019), reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (β=−0.220; <italic>P</italic> = 0.004), increased left ventricular mass index (β = 0.226; <italic>P</italic> = 0.027), and higher LS values (β = 0.274; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). In addition, alanine aminotransferase level (β = 0.214, <italic>P</italic> = 0.012) and CAC score (β = 0.311; <italic>P</italic> = 0.001) are the only independent factors associated with LS values in subjects with NAFLD.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12992-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Higher CAC score was independently correlated with LS values in subjects with NAFLD. However, it should be further investigated whether TE can be incorporated into a screening tool to identify the high‐risk population for coronary artery disease.</p> </sec> </abstract>