Frequency of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
and its biochemical derangements in
type-2 diabetic patients

Ijaz-ul-Haque Taseer¹, Laiq Hussain², Sohail Safdar³,
Ahsanullah M Mirbahar⁴, Iftikhar Ahmad⁵

ABSTRACT

Objective: To see the frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Type-2 diabetic patients and to see biochemical derangements in NAFLD patients.

Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study, conducted at Diabetic Research Centre & outpatient department Nishtar Hospital and PMRC Research Centre Nishtar Medical College, Multan. One hundred patients of either sex having type 2 diabetes mellitus attending diabetic out-patient department Nishtar Hospital Multan were included in the study. A pre-designed study pro forma was filled with relevant investigations and clinical assessments were carried out in all cases. All the patients underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Data were entered in SPSS-11 & analyzed.

Results: Out of one hundred patients, 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 had fatty liver. Out of these 32 (62.75%) were female and 19 (37.25%) were male. Fatigue was present in 49 (53.26%), generalized weakness in 48 (52.18%), heaviness right upper abdomen in 22 (64.70%) and pain right upper abdomen in 20 (58.82%) of fatty liver patients. Corresponding figure in Non Fatty Liver Patients were 43 (46.74%), 44 (47.82%), 12 (35.30%) & 14(41.18%), 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 200mg/dl was seen in 24(47.05%). Aspartate amino transferase (AST) more than 35 u/l was noted in seven (13.72%), alanine amino-transferase (ALT) more than 40u/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-2 diabetic patients. Serum triglyceride and serum cholesterol are significantly raised in NAFLD patients. Raised ALT and AST was 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-2 diabetes mellitus.

Pak J Med Sci    October - December 2009 (Part-I)    Vol. 25 No. 5    817-820

How to cite this article:

Taseer IH, Hussain L, Safdar S, Mirbahar AM, Ahmad I. Frequency of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) & its biochemical derangements in Type-2 diabetic patients. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(5):817-820.

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1. Ijaz-ul-Haque Taseer MD,
Research Director
2. Laiq Hussain, M. Phil,
Honorary Director,
3. Sohail Safdar, M. Sc,
Research Officer,
4. Ahsanullah M. Mirbahar, M. Sc,
Research Officer,
1-4: PMRC Research Centre,
Nishtar Medical College, Multan.
5. Iftikhar Ahmad, M. Phil,
Professor of Biochemistry,
Nishtar Medical College, Multan - Pakistan.

Correspondence

Dr. Ijaz-Ul-Haque Taseer
E-Mail: dritaseer@hotmail.com, pmrcnmc@gmail.com

* Received for Publication: March 27, 2009

* Revision Received: August 26, 2009

* Revision Accepted: August 28, 2009

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