Screening for hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A transient elastography study

Özet

Background/Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is highly prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of thepresent study was to investigate the potential usefulness of transient elastography (TE), which is a technique that allows measuringboth fibrosis and liver fat content simultaneously, as a screening tool for hepatic involvement in Turkish patients with T2DM.Materials and Methods: We obtained liver stiffness measurements (LSMs, as a measure of fibrosis) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP, as a marker of steatosis) in 124 (46 males and 78 females; mean body mass index (BMI): 33.2±6.6 kg/m2) Turkish patients withT2DM. The prevalence rates of overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in our sample were 28.2%, 64.5%, and 77.4%, respectively.Probe-specific LSM cut-off values were used to define advanced fibrosis (≥F3) and cirrhosis (F4) (M probe: F3=9.6-11.4 kPa, F4 ≥11.5 kPaand XL probe: F3=9.3-10.9 kPa, F4 ≥11.0 kPa). Mild, moderate, and severe steatosis were defined as CAP 222-232 dB/m, CAP 233-289dB/m, and CAP ≥290 dB/m, respectively.Results: Advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis were identified in 21 (16.9%) and 10 (8.0%) patients, respectively. TE-defined hepatic steatosis(CAP>222 dB/m) was detected in 117 (94.3%) patients. Mild, moderate, and severe steatosis were identified in 0, 29, and 88 patients,respectively.Conclusion: TE is a useful non-invasive imaging modality to screen for liver involvement in Turkish patients with T2DM. High rates ofTE-defined fibrosis and steatosis in our sample reflect the presence of an elevated mean BMI.