FREQUENCY OF NON ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD) AND ITS BIOCHEMICAL DERANGEMENTS IN TYPE II DIABETIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: To see the frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type II diabetic patients. To see biochemical derangements in NAFLD patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Diabetic Research Centre & outpatient department Nishtar Hospital Multan. Methodology: One hundred patients of either sex having type II diabetes mellitus attending diabetic out-patient department Nishtar Hospital Multan were included in the study. A pre-designed study pro-forma was filled in relevant investigations and clinical assessments were carried out in all cases. All the patients underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Data were entered in SPSS-20 and analyzed. Results: A total of 100 diabetic patients were studied. Out of these, 51 (51%) were female and 49 (49%) were male. Mean age of the patients was 47.93 ± 8.57 years. Fifty one (51%) of the diabetic patients were having fatty liver. Out of these 51 patients of fatty liver, 32 (62.75%) were female and 19 (37.25%) were male. Fatigue was seen in 49 (53.26%), generalized weakness in 48 (52.18%), heaviness right upper abdomen in 22 (64.70%) and pain right upper abdomen was seen in 20 (58.82%) of fatty liver patients while these were 43 (46.74%), 44 (47.82%), 12 (35.30%) and 14 (41.18%) in non-fatty liver patients respectively. Itching was noted in 19 (44.18%) patients of fatty liver while it was 24 (55.82%) in non-fatty liver patients. Serum triglyceride level more than 160 mg/dl in 47 (92.15%) patients of fatty liver while serum cholesterol level more than 200 mg/dl was seen in 24 (47.05%). Aspartate amino-transferase (AST) more than 35 u/l was noted in 7 (13.72%), alanine amino-transferase (ALT) more than 40 u/l was noted in 6 (11.76%) fatty liver patients while serum albumin and serum billirubin were within normal range in all fatty liver and non-fatty liver patients.

Conclusion: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is more commonly seen in type II diabetic patients. Serum triglyceride and serum cholesterol are significantly raised in NAFLD patients. Raised ALT and AST is not a common finding in our NAFLD study patients. Diabetic patients having heaviness or pain right upper abdomen with raised serum triglycerides and cholesterol should be more closely observed for NAFLD and liver complications.

KEYWORDS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type II diabetes mellitus.