ABSTRACT

There are controversial results about studies investigating the relationship between non-alcholic fatty liver disease and the risk of cardiovascular disease. In studies performed in different patient series it has been shown that the risk of cardiovascular disease has increased in patients with high hemoglobin levels. In our study, we aimed to investigate the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with non-alcholic fatty liver disease and the effect of blood hemoglobin levels on this risk. A total of 163 patients diagnosed to have biopsy-proven nonalcholic fatty liver disease and 70 healthy control persons were included in the study. In patients with non-alcholic fatty liver disease serum adiponectin levels were lower than, and serum asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels and carotid intima media thicknesses were similar to those of the control group. Patients with non-alcholic fatty liver disease were divided into two groups according to hemoglobin levels. Adiponectin and asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels were similar between the two groups. However, carotid intima media thickness measurements were statistically significantly higher in patients with a hemoglobin level of ≥15.8 g/dL when compared to patients with a hemoglobin level of <15.8 g/dL. No significant correlation was observed between hemoglobin levels and carotid intima media thickness measurements. In our conclusion high hemoglobin levels in patients with non-alcholic fatty liver disease may increase cardiovascular disease risk, non-alcholic fatty liver disease alone may not be an additional risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and adiponectin may have a role in the pathogenesis of both non-alcholic fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases.