A Cross Sectional Study to Assess Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in India
Background: Liver fibrosis is now being considered as a reversible process which is characterized by excessive accumulation of extra cellular matrix. The use of non-invasive methods to assess liver fibrosis in patients with HCV, Non- Alcoholic Fatty liver Disease (NAFLD) and alcohol abuse has been well validated. However use of these noninvasive methods in patients with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome has not been assessed who might develop fibrosis during asymptomatic stage. Hence we tried to use these noninvasive methods in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome who are at high risk of developing NAFLD or liver fibrosis in routine clinical practice. Aim: To evaluate liver fibrosis in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Methodology: This was a single center, prospective, 50 patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome attending the endocrinology department of Osmania General Hospital were assessed for fatty liver and enrolled in to the study. NAFLD fibrosis score was used to assess liver fibrosis and BARD score was used for staging of fibrosis as per metavir classification. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.8 ± 8.2 with 22 males and 28 female’s. 90% of the population was found to have some degree of fibrosis. 56% of patients were at advance fibrosis stage as per the BARD score based on metavir classification. Conclusion: Patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome should be constantly evaluated for liver fibrosis apart from development of diabetes and other complications to prevent any adverse effects due to waning of liver function.
