ASSESSMENT OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS USING REAL-TIME HEPATIC ELASTOGRAPHY: PREVALENCE, SEVERITY, AND DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver condition frequently observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Real-time hepatic elastography has emerged as a non-invasive technique to assess liver fibrosis, offering potential advantages over traditional diagnostic methods.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of NAFLD in patients with T2DM using real-time hepatic elastography and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of this technique in staging liver fibrosis.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 120 T2DM patients. All participants underwent real-time hepatic elastography to measure liver stiffness, which correlates with fibrosis severity. Clinical data including serum liver enzymes were also collected. Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of T2DM and informed consent, while exclusion criteria encompassed significant alcohol consumption, other chronic liver diseases, and recent liver transplantation.

Results: NAFLD was present in 85% of the patients. The median liver stiffness measurement was 7.5 kPa. Among NAFLD patients, 40% had mild fibrosis, 35% had moderate fibrosis, and 10% had severe fibrosis. Hepatic elastography showed a diagnostic accuracy of 90% in identifying and staging liver fibrosis. A significant correlation (r = 0.68) was observed between liver stiffness and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

Conclusion: Real-time hepatic elastography is a highly effective non-invasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis in T2DM patients with NAFLD. Its high diagnostic accuracy and ability to provide detailed information on liver fibrosis stages make it a valuable addition to clinical practice. This study underscores the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of NAFLD to improve patient management and outcomes. Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hepatic elastography, liver fibrosis, transient elastography, acoustic radiation force impulse