ABSTRACT

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Carotid artery intima media thickness is a reliable index of subclinical atherosclerosis. There are contradictory reports about relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate carotid artery intima media thickness levels and its association with histological findings in biopsy proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

113 male patients and 57 healthy male controls were enrolled. Patients and control groups mean ages were 31.7± 5.7 and 30.1± 5.5 respectively. Body mass index, Waist circumference, glucose, lipids and insulin levels, and HOMA-IR were determined. Carotid atherosclerosis evaluated by carotid artery intima media thickness using high resolution carotid ultrasonography. Carotid artery intima media thickness levels were higher in patient group than the control group. This difference was disappeared when the findings were adjusted according to the body mass index, waist circumference, glucose and lipid levels, and HOMA-IR indexes. In addition, no significant association was observed between carotid artery intima media thickness and liver histology. However, there was a significant association between age and carotid artery intima media thickness in patients and controls.

Our study does not support an association between carotid atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Otherwise, it can be speculated that a longer exposure to the disease is required to determine significant differences in carotid atherosclerosis.

Keywords: Carotid intima media thickness, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Steatohepatitis.