The introduction into clinical practice of an algorithm for the diagnosis of liver steatosis in patients with viral pneumonia

Aim. To study the ability and significance of detecting liver steatosis during chest computed tomography (CT) in patients with viral pneumonia. Materials and methods. A prospective cohort study included 100 patients over the age of 18 who were hospitalized with an established diagnosis of viral pneumonia. To CT detection significant liver steatosis (more than 33%), several approaches were used: liver density less than 40 HU; decrease in liver density by at least 10 HU less than the spleen; the ratio of decrease in liver density to the spleen is less than 0.9. Results. According to CT data 2 groups were identified: 25 patients with existing liver steatosis and metabolically associated fatty liver disease, and 74 patients of the control group without signs of significant steatosis, оne patient was excluded due to alcohol abuse. There was a significant difference in the study of liver density (31.68 ± 10.67 and 54.44 ± 5.95; p 0.001), the ratio of decrease in liver density to spleen density (0.66 ± 0.22 and 1.16 ± 0.13; p 0.001), as well as a decrease in liver density relative to the spleen (16.30 ± 10.38 and -7.26 ± 6.10; p 0.001). In the steatosis group, a more severe course of pneumonia was noted (p = 0.041). The incidence of deterioration according to CT was comparable in both groups: 19 (76%) and 45 (60.8%); p = 0.169, although its severity was higher in the group with steatosis (p = 0.012). Patients from the steatosis group were significantly more often prescribed biological (88.0 and 39.19%; p 0.001) and antibacterial therapy (68.0 and 40.54%; p = 0.017). Conclusion. The use of assessment of liver steatosis according to CT data simultaneously with the study of the underlying disease can become an important diagnostic step determining the prognosis of the course of the disease, as well as a tool for risk stratification in patients with metabolically associated fatty liver disease.