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. 2013 Jun 30;6(6):325-30.
doi: 10.4066/AMJ.2013.1648. Print 2013.

Primary non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in hypertensive patients

Luminita Latea  1 , Stefania Negrea, Sorana Bolboaca
Affiliations

Primary non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in hypertensive patients

Luminita Latea et al. Australas Med J. .

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver disease affecting 15-25% of the general population.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD and the relationship between insulin sensitivity and NAFLD in grade III high and very high cardiovascular additional risk essential hypertensive patients according to the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm.

Method: This four-year prospective study was conducted at the Department of Internal Medicine at Cluj-Napoca's Diagnosis and Treatment Centre in Romania. The study included grade III essential hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients were divided into four groups according to the diurnal index (DI) from ABPM monitoring: dipper (D), non-dipper (ND), reverse-dipper (RD), and extreme-dipper (ED). All hypertensive patients underwent 24 ABPM, blood tests and abdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of fatty liver disease.

Results: Thirty-five hypertensive patients were included in the study, with 31.42% ND, 11.43% RD, 8.57% ED and 48.57% D. The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in ND, RD and ED when compared to D. When compared to the dipper group of hypertensive patients a statistically significantly higher level of plasma insulin was observed: in non-dipper [86.3±17.9pmol/l vs. 62.2±203pmol/l, p<0.05], in reverse dipper [88.3±18.6pmol/l vs. 62.2±20.3pmol/l] and in extreme-dippers [86.7±16.88pmol/l vs. 62.2±20.3 pmol/l, p<0.05].

Conclusion: The altered dipping status (ND, RD, ED) of hypertension associated with a higher insulin resistance could be the pathogenetic link between the NAFLD and altered blood pressure status. Altered BP status could be a marker of NAFLD in hypertensive patients.

Keywords: Essential hypertension; NAFLD; circadian blood pressure rhythm; insulin resistance; primary non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The prevalence of NAFLD in hypertensive patients
Figure 2
Figure 2. The prevalence of NAFLD in hypertensive patients
Figure 3
Figure 3. The prevalence of ultrasonographic grades of NAFLD in hypertensive patients
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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