Primary non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in hypertensive patients

• Published in: Australasian medical journal 2013-01, Vol.6 (6), p.325-330
• Main Authors: Latea, Luminita, Negrea, Stefania, Bolboaca, Sorana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1836-1935; 1836-1935
• DOI: 10.4066/AMJ.2013.1648

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