Background and aim: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a de worldwide public healthproblem, has a relationship with insulin resistance and, hyperglycemia, related to type 2 diabetes. Total cholesterol (TC)/ High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and ultrasensitive reactive C protein has been a biomarker of CVD risk, the Framingham Cardiovascular Institute suggested that TC/HDL should be <4. Because optimal cut-off values of TC/HDL and Triglycerides (TG)/HDL are already known to predict NAFLD, however, it has not been correlated with the degree of hepatic fat infiltration using abdominal ultrasound mode B (AUMB) study, with a sensitivity of 79.7% and specificity 86.2%. AIM: Describe the TC/HDL, TG/HDL ratio with degree of hepatic fat infiltration in patients diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver.
Material and methods: Retrospective study of patients registered with NAFLD in external gastroenterology consultation at hospital Juárez in Mexico, froml January 1, 2017 to January 31, 2020, who complied with the following: 1. No history of alcohol consumption or quantity < 30 grams/day men and < 20 grams/day women, 2. Exclusion of a history of specific diseases that may cause NAFLD, 3. AUMB with 3.5MHz (Toshiba) soda according to the diagnostic criteria of NAFLD by the Chinese society of Hepatology 2010 that shows excessive accumulation of liver fat interpreted by the same radiologist doctor. 4. Full fasting lipid. Data was obtained from the clinical dossier and processed in the statistical program Jamovi 1.1.9, for obtaining means, medians and percentages. Chi squared test was used for categorical variable analysis and one-way variance analysis (ANOVA) for continuous variables, setting a p-0.05 to significant.
Results: In total 102, mean age 52 years (20-79), female 80 (78.4%), nos previous history 63 (61.8%) metabolic syndrome 90 (88.2%) diabetics 46 (45.1%) obesity 64 (62.7%).
AUMB for fat infiltration: Grade I, 8 (7.8%) grade II 48 (47.1%) and grade III 46 (45.1%) being by FIB4 scale (Ishak 2-3) and NAFLD score for indeterminate fibrosis.
The median TC/HDL was correlated with the degree of hepatic fat infiltration by AUMB, grade I: 3.65 (2.81- 4.10) II, 4.06 (2.04- 6.83) III, 4.81 (1.95-10.3), p<0.001 value.
TG/HDL was also correlated with degree of hepatic fat infiltration being: grade I, 2.27 (1.31-3.05), II, 4.32 (0.887- 12.5) III, 6.05 (1.80-16.9) with p value <0.0011 III, 6.05 (1.80-16.9) p value<0.0011 III, 6.05 (1.80-16.9) with p value p<0.0011.High triglyceride levels and metabolic syndrome correlate with the degree of hepatic fat infiltration value of <0.001.
Conclusions: The TC/HDL and TG/HDL ratio correlates with the degree of hepatic fat infiltration by AUMB, however, it should be considered that in patients with high body mass index this study lowers its sensitivity and specificity so it should be performed in addition to other imaging modalities.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.