Loguercio C, De Girolamo V, de Sio I, Tuccillo C, Ascione A, Baldi F, Budillon G, Cimino L, Di Carlo A, Di Marino MP, Morisco F, Picciotto F, Terracciano L, Vecchione R, Verde V, Del Vecchio Blanco C. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in an area of southern Italy: main clinical, histological, and pathophysiological aspects.
J Hepatol 2001;
35:568-74. [PMID:
11690701 DOI:
10.1016/s0168-8278(01)00192-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have included chronic liver damage attributed to various causes. Our investigation was held to observe the main clinical, histological, and pathophysiological aspects of NAFLD in patients not exposed to any known cause of chronic liver disease.
METHODS
We evaluated, in 84 in-patients (male/female, 66/18; median age, 36 years), the clinical and biochemical characteristics of NAFLD, and particularly its association with diabetes, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia and/or with the increase of parameters of oxidative stress (blood levels of malonyldialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal and total plasma antioxidant capacity).
RESULTS
Ninety percent of patients had an increased body mass index (BMI), 35% had dyslipidemia, 40% had sub-clinical diabetes (only 3% had overt diabetes), 60% had hyperinsulinemia, and more than 90% had enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation markers. In 48 patients who had consented to liver biopsy, we found: 14 with simple steatosis, 32 with steatohepatitis, and two with cirrhosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that in our country, NAFLD may occur in young males with an increased BMI, with or without hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and diabetes, generally associated with disorders of redox status, and that it may be differentiated from steatosis to steatohepatitis or cirrhosis only with a liver biopsy.
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