Study of Clinical Profile of Patients of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and its Association with Metabolic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be the commonest liver problem in the western world and is increasingly being recognised as a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. It is known to be associated with various metabolic abnormalities, but not much information regarding association between the metabolic disease and the severity of fatty liver is available. AIMS: To study the clinical profile of patients of NAFLD with varying degrees of severity as diagnosed by ultrasonography and to study the correlation between the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome along with its individual components. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was an observational and analytical study of patients diagnosed as NAFLD, attending OPD and indoor patients of the Department of Medicine, J A Group of hospitals. All patients diagnosed as NAFLD were investigated for metabolic syndrome according to the NCEP ATP 3 Criteria and a relationship between NAFLD and metabolic syndrome was studied. RESULTS: 51.4% of patients of NAFLD had metabolic syndrome and statistical significance was found in AST, diabetes mellitus and lipid profile. CONCLUSIONS: There is higher prevalence of all the components of metabolic syndrome in cases of NAFLD. Its early detection will help in modifying the disease course, delaying complications and will also play a major role in preventive cardiology.