Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk by Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.Intima media thickness of common carotid artery is considered to be an excellent non-invasive measure of generalized atherosclerosis.The present study was conducted to evaluate the cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) subjects as demonstrated by increased carotid intima media thickness( CIMT) detected by using B-mode ultrasonography.A total of 50 healthy participants, 18 males and 32 females in the age group of 21-50 years of age with incidental finding of fatty liver on ultrasound abdomen, attending hospital outpatient department of Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar were included.The relationship of carotid intima media thickness was observed with various variables.Mean carotid intimal medial thickness was taken on both sides.The result concluded that serum cholesterol >200mg/dl, serum triglycerides >150mg/dl, serum LDL >130mg/dl and increasing grades of fatty liver from grade I to III were significantly associated with increased CIMT.The present study also depicted no significant relationship of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), serum HDL levels with carotid intima media thickness.Fatty changes in liver had direct correlation with carotid intimal medial thickness thereby stressing that asymptomatic NAFLD is an important component/ risk factor and determinant of atherosclerosis.