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Abstract Details
The relationship between liver histology and thyroid function tests in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Roberta D'Ambrosio1, Irene Campi2, Marco Maggioni3, Riccardo Perbellini1, Enza Giammona4, Roberta Stucchi4, Marta Borghi1, Elisabetta Degasperi1, Annalisa De Silvestri5, Luca Persani26, Laura Fugazzola27, Pietro Lampertico17
Author information
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
2Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
3Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Division of Pathology, Milan, Italy.
4Division of Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
5Clinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
6Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
7Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, CRC "A.M. e A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
Background: Data on the role of hypothyroidism in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis are conflicting, although selective Thyroid Hormone Receptor (THR)-β agonists have been identified as potential therapy in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Therefore, we investigated the association between hypothyroidism and NAFLD histological features potentially associated with progressive liver disease.
Methods: Between 2014 and 2016, consecutive patients with histologically proven NAFLD and frozen serum available for thyroid function tests assessment were included. NAFLD was staged according to the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS), and fibrosis according to Kleiner. NASH was defined as NAS ≥4, significant fibrosis as F2-F4 and significant steatosis as S2-S3. Thyroid function tests (TFT; TSH, FT3, FT4, rT3), TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab were also assessed.
Results: Fifty-two patients were analyzed: median age 54 years, 58% females, LSM 7.8 kPa, 27% diabetics, 14% hypothyroid. At histology, NASH was present in 21 (40%), F2-F4 in 28 (54%) and S2-S3 in 30 (58%) patients. Rates of hypothyroidism were similar independently of the presence of NASH (p = 0.11), significant fibrosis (p = 0.21) or steatosis (p = 0.75). However, hypothyroid patients displayed a higher NAS (p = 0.02) and NASH (p = 0.06) prevalence. At multivariate analysis, TFT were not independently associated with histology.
Conclusion: Hypothyroidism was highly prevalent in NAFLD patients, and was associated with increased NAFLD activity, but not with fibrosis and steatosis severity. Thus, thyroid dysfunction might play a direct and/or indirect in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and NASH.