Sonographic Quantification of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Association of Its Findings with Biochemical Indicators

  Objective  To assess the value of the sonographic quantification of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and explore the association of serum biochemical indicators with NAFL.

  Methods  Totally 64 patients with T2DM were recruited from Peking Union Medical College Hospital from November 2011 to May 2013. All subjects underwent both serum biochemical test and ultrasonography at the same day. According to the ultrasound findings, all participants were divided into normal, mild, and moderate-severe fatty liver groups. Hepatorenal ratio and hepatic attenuation index were obtained from ordinary ultrasound images using computer software.

  Results  There were statistical differences in hepatic attenuation index and triglyceride (TG) among the three groups0.954±0.103, 1.206±0.198, and 1.546±0.400; and (1.10±0.71), (1.82±0.84), and (2.86±1.75)mmol/L; respectively(all P < 0.05). For hepatorenal ratio, there were differences between normal, mild, and moderat-severe fatty liver group(0.926±0.175, 1.350±0.302, and 1.628±0.829, respectively; P < 0.05). Hepatorenal ratio, hepatic attenuation index, and TG were positively correlated with the grading of NAFL (r=0.678, P < 0.001;r=0.788, P < 0.001; and r=0.609, P < 0.001, respectively).

  Conclusions  Hepatorenal ratio and hepatic attenuation index can be used as objective quantitative indexes in the diagnosis of NAFL in T2DM patients. They can be used as an easy and effective tool for follow-up and evaluation of NAFL treatment efficacy in these patients.