Influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus on liver histology among morbidly obese individuals. A cross-sectional study

DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF THE NON-INVASIVE MARKERS NFLS, NI-NASH-DS, AND FIB-4 FOR ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH OBESITY: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive markers have been developed to assess the presence and severity of liver abnormalities related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive NAFLD markers (NAFLD liver fat score [NLFS], non-invasive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis detection score [NI-NASH-DS] and fibrosis score based on four variables [FIB-4]) in individuals with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.

METHODS

A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out enrolling 91 individuals who underwent bariatric surgery at a tertiary-level public university hospital. Non-invasive NAFLD markers were calculated using laboratory tests, clinical and anthropometric variables and diagnostic accuracy tests were calculated comparing them in relation to the gold-standard test for this analysis (histopathological evaluation).

RESULTS

A total of 85.7% of the participants were female and mean age was 39.1±9.8 years. The average body mass index was 38.4±3.6 kg/m2. At histopathological examination, 84 (92.3%) patients presented with steatosis, 82 (90.1%) with some type of fibrosis; 21 (23.1%) patients were diagnosed with NASH according to the NAFLD activity score criteria. The overall accuracy of NLFS score was 58.2% for general hepatic steatosis and 61.5% for moderate to severe steatosis. The overall accuracy of FIB-4 was 95.4% for advanced fibrosis. NI-NASH-DS had a 74.7% overall accuracy for NASH.

CONCLUSION

In a population of individuals with obesity, the FIB-4 score had high overall accuracy in assessing the presence of advanced liver fibrosis, whereas the NFLS and NI-NASH-DS had moderate accuracies for the assessment of steatosis and NASH, respectively.

Application of Scores Assessing Histological Activity and Estimated Long-Term Risk Analysis of Hepatic Decompensation of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Individuals Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

Histological scores can estimate disease staging, allowing a standardization of the assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The prediction of risk of NAFLD progression is relevant to allow the planning of interventions.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the application of the Iowa NAFLD decompensation risk score, the NAFLD activity score (NAS), and steatosis-activity-fibrosis score (SAF) and to assess correlations between these scores.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study enrolling 76 individuals who underwent bariatric surgery at a tertiary university hospital. Liver biopsy was performed during procedures; histological scores were then assessed. The Iowa score was calculated using age, diabetes, and platelet count.

RESULTS

89.5% were female and mean age was 39.1 ± 9.6 years. Mean BMI was 38.2 ± 3.7 kg/m². Steatosis (92.1%), hepatocellular ballooning (93.4%), lobular inflammation (93.4%), and fibrosis (97.4%) were the commonest histopathological findings. According to NAS, 22.4% had definite non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). According to SAF, 89.5% had moderate or severe NAFLD. The mean risks of NAFLD decompensation at 5, 10, and 12 years were 0.8%, 2.5%, and 2.9%, respectively. The group whose risk of decompensation was above 10% comprised 2.6% and 5.3% at 10 and 12 years, respectively. The severity assessed by SAF significantly associated with definite NASH diagnosis through NAS (p < 0.001). Iowa score did not correlate with both NAS/SAF scores.

CONCLUSION

The Iowa score demonstrated that individuals with obesity present with a significant long-term risk of NAFLD-related events. There were high rates of moderate/severe forms of NAFLD assessed by NAS and SAF scores. There were no significant correlations between Iowa and NAS/SAF scores.

Is Helicobacter pylori infection associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery? Cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

A possible direct link between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has recently emerged.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze associations between the presence of histologically demonstrated NAFLD aspects with H. pylori infection in individuals with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.

DESIGN AND SETTING

An observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted based on data collected from the medical records of individuals undergoing bariatric surgery at a tertiary university hospital in 2019.

METHODS

NAFLD was assessed through histological examination of wedge liver biopsies collected during the proceedings. H. pylori infection was analyzed through the association of the urease test and histological examination performed in biopsies routinely collected during preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

RESULTS

Of the 88 participants, 85% were female, and the average age was 39.1 ± 8.4 years. H. pylori infection was present in 61.4% of the patients. The mean body mass index was 36.6 ± 3.4 kg/m2. The most prevalent histopathological aspects of NAFLD were macrovesicular steatosis (92%), hepatocellular ballooning (92%), lobular inflammation (93.2%), portal inflammation (96.6%), and fibrosis (93.2%). No histopathological aspect of NAFLD was found to be significantly associated with H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSION

In this study population, H. pylori infection was not significantly associated with the histopathological aspects of NAFLD in individuals with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.

Correlation Between Anthropometric Measurements and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Individuals With Obesity Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

We hypothesize that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be significantly associated with waist circumference (WC), neck circumference (NC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).

OBJECTIVES

To analyze correlations between anthropometric parameters and the occurrence and intensity of NAFLD aspects assessed by histopathological examination in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a tertiary university hospital. Demographic, clinical, anthropometric, laboratory, and histopathological variables were analyzed; uni- and multivariate analyses were performed. Histopathological variables analyzed were findings of liver biopsies collected during surgical procedures.

RESULTS

Of 119 individuals, 105 (88.2%) were female. The mean age was 38.8 ± 9.3 years and the mean BMI was 37.6 ± 3.1 kg/m². The prevalence of NAFLD histopathological aspects was: steatosis (76.5%), steatohepatitis (49.6%), and fibrosis (51.3%). WC was significantly higher in individuals with steatosis (103.5 ± 9.9 vs. 99.4 ± 8.4; p = 0.03). Individuals with steatohepatitis presented significantly higher BMI (38.2 ± 3.2 vs. 36.7 ± 2.8; p = 0.01), WC (105.3 ± 10.4 vs. 99.6 ± 8.8; p = 0.002), and WHR (1 ± 0.1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1; p = 0.02). Age (40.6 ± 9.7 vs. 37 ± 8.5; p = 0.03) and hemoglobin A1c (6.5 ± 0.5 vs. 5.6 ± 0.5; p = 0.004) were significantly higher among individuals with fibrosis. A positive correlation was observed between the steatosis intensity and WHR (R = 0.2; p = 0.04). BMI (R = 0.2; p = 0.02) and glucose (R = 0.2; p = 0.009) were independently correlated with the steatohepatitis intensity. Age (R = 0.3; p = 0.04) was independently correlated with the fibrosis intensity.

CONCLUSION

There were significant associations between anthropometric parameters and NAFLD aspects. WC and WHR were associated with steatosis; BMI, WC, and WHR were associated with steatohepatitis. WHR independently correlated with steatosis intensity.

From Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)-New Terminology in Pediatric Patients as a Step in Good Scientific Direction?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world, which predispose to more serious hepatic conditions. It ranges from simple liver steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may progress to cirrhosis, and even end-stage liver disease. Since obesity became one of the most important health concerns wordwide, a considerable increase in the prevalance of NAFLD and other metabolic implications has been observed, both in adults and children. Due to the coexistence of visceral obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, NAFLD is considered to be the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MetS). These relationships between NAFLD and MetS led to the set up in adults of a new term combining both of these conditions, called metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Based on these findings, we propose a set of criteria, which may be useful to diagnose MAFLD in children and adolescents.

Hyposalivation is prevalent in bariatric patients but improves after surgery

BACKGROUND

Obesity and type 2 diabetes can be associated with poor oral health. This can be because of hyposalivation leading to chronic oral inflammation (OI) and periodontal disease.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of hyposalivation and OI in individuals undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and determine the relationship with metabolic and anthropometric parameters before and after RYGB.

SETTING

University hospital in Canada.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study of 59 patients undergoing RYGB from September 2015 to December 2019. Anthropometric, biochemical, and oral measurements were taken before surgery and 1 and 6 months post RYGB. Oral parameters included salivary flow rate and neutrophil count as marker of OI.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients were enrolled with 29 completing this study. At baseline, the median age was 47 years and body mass index was 46.5 kg/m², 52 (88.1%) were female and 14 individuals (23.7%) had type 2 diabetes; 54.2% (n = 32) of patients had hyposalivation and 13.6% (n = 8) had high neutrophil count. Patients with hyposalivation had significantly higher fasting glucose (5.7 mmol/L) compared with those without hyposalivation (5.2 mmol/L) but no difference was found between high versus low neutrophil count. At 6 months post RYGB, all variables except oral neutrophil count significantly improved. Hyposalivation persisted in 7 (24%) individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

In our bariatric patients, more than half the patients had hyposalivation before RYGB and this was associated with higher fasting glucose. Hyposalivation improved post RYGB in parallel with improvements in metabolic parameters but there was no change in OI. Increased salivation may reduce the risk of periodontal disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and bariatric surgery: a comprehensive review

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasingly diagnosed worldwide and is now recognized as a source of public health concern. It comprises a wide spectrum of histological features that range from simple steatosis to severe forms of fibrosis, steatohepatitis and even cirrhosis. The impact of bariatric surgery on the course of NAFLD in individuals with obesity has been extensively studied.

DESIGN AND SETTING:

Narrative review; public university hospital.

METHODS:

A comprehensive review was conducted based on an online search on the electronic databases MEDLINE and LILACS using the MeSH terms "fatty liver" and "bariatric surgery".

RESULTS:

The exact mechanisms that lead to improvement in NAFLD following bariatric surgery are not completely understood. Since Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the bariatric surgical procedure most performed worldwide, it is also the one from which the effects on NAFLD have been most studied, although there is also consistent evidence regarding the effects from gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversions.

CONCLUSION:

According to the currently available evidence, bariatric surgery leads to significant improvement in NAFLD. Further research, especially by means of randomized controlled trials enrolling larger cohorts of individuals, is needed to determine the optimal procedure for this group of subjects.