Clinical characteristics associated with hepatic steatosis on ultrasonography in patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

The main causes of hepatic steatosis (HS) are alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although liver biopsy is the gold standard for NAFLD diagnosis, the finding of abnormal aminotransferases in abstinent individuals, without known liver disease, suggests the diagnosis of NAFLD in 80-90% of the cases. Identification of clinical factors associated with HS on abdominal ultrasound may enable diagnoses of fatty liver non-invasively and cost-effectively. The aim here was to identify clinical variables associated with HS in individuals with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional study in a single tertiary care center.

METHODS

Individuals with elevated ALT, serologically negative for hepatitis B and C, were evaluated by reviewing medical files. Patients who did not undergo abdominal ultrasonography were excluded.

RESULTS

Among 94 individuals included, 40% presented HS on ultrasonography. Compared with individuals without HS, those with fatty liver were older (P = 0.043), with higher body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.003), diabetes prevalence (P = 0.024), fasting glucose levels (P = 0.001) and triglycerides (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that BMI (odds ratio, OR = 1.186; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.049-1.341; P = 0.006) and diabetes mellitus (OR = 12.721; 95% CI: 1.380-117.247; P = 0.025) were independently associated with HS.

CONCLUSIONS

Simple clinical findings such as history of diabetes and high BMI may predict the presence of HS on ultrasonography in individuals with elevated ALT and negative serological tests for hepatitis.