Thyroid Profile of Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Abstract
Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with various metabolic abnormalities such as obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing gradually, which may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis of liver, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The important association of NAFLD and metabolic disease can lead to endocrinopathy, including thyroid diseases.
Methodology: Serologically diagnosed NAFLD patient was evaluated biochemically for liver function and thyroid function to evaluate any association between these two.
Results: The study shows female preponderance (63.3%) NAFLD. It was observed that 77.50% were having normal transaminase level and 22.50% had raised transaminase levels (NASH). Subclinical hypothyroidism was present among 18.30%, overt hypothyroidism was 7.50%, and hyperthyroidism was 0.80%. Among the individuals with normal transaminase level, 20.50% were hypothyroid (15.10% subclinical and 5.40% overt), and persons with raised transaminase levels (NASH), 44.44% were hypothyroid (29.63% subclinical and 14.81% overt).
Conclusion: This study shows that though there was a female preponderance of NAFLD, raised transaminase was more common among male and so is the hypothyroidism. This may form a matrix to the future study for cause and effect relationship of NAFLD and thyroid disease.
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