School of Medicine Publications and Presentations
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can be predicted by retinal vascular changes in patients with obesity without hypertension or diabetes
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2017
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the utility of predicting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity by retinal vascular changes (RVC) found in fundoscopy and to determine whether this is related to a low-grade inflammatory process.
Methods
We carried out a cross-sectional analysis that included 152 (ages 18–45 years) patients divided into four groups: NAFLD and BMI less than 25, absence of NAFLD and BMI less than 25, NAFLD and BMI more than 30, and absence of NAFLD and BMI more than 30. Retinal fundoscopy, hepatic ultrasound, metabolic profile, and cytokine measurement were performed. We calculated odds ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)], performed diagnostic utility tests, and carried out a 2 k factorial analysis.
Results
Obesity was associated with RVC (odds ratio: 21.25; 95% CI: 8.79–51.4) and NAFLD [25 (9.07–72.6)]. NAFLD was associated with RVC [11.24 (4.98–26.48)], and the prediction of NAFLD showed a sensitivity of 75% (95% CI: 68–82) and a specificity of 81% (75–86); when RVC-obesity were combined, sensitivity increased to 90% (88–91.7), with a specificity of 85% (84–85.8). C-reactive protein was associated with the three factors, suggesting an independent contribution. Thin patients with RVC and NAFLD had higher concentrations of interleukin-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ.
Conclusion
NAFLD in patients with obesity without diabetes or hypertension can be predicted by RVC, a noninvasive technique carried out by eye fundoscopy. NAFLD alone can drive inflammatory conditions in the absence of obesity that manifests as RVC.
Recommended Citation
Romero-Ibarguengoitia, M. E., Herrera-Rosas, A., Domínguez-Mota, A. A., Camas-Benitez, J. T., Serratos-Canales, M. F., León-Hernández, M., ... & López-Alvarenga, J. C. (2017). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can be predicted by retinal vascular changes in patients with obesity without hypertension or diabetes. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 29(8), 962-967. https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0000000000000900
Publication Title
European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
DOI
10.1097/MEG.0000000000000900
Academic Level
faculty
Mentor/PI Department
Office of Human Genetics
Comments
© 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.