Association between noninvasive fibrosis markers and chronic kidney disease among adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 10;9(2):e88569. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088569. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study we aimed to evaluate whether the severity of liver fibrosis estimated by NAFLD fibrosis score is associated with higher prevalence of CKD in individuals with NAFLD. To this end NAFLD fibrosis score and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed in 570 White individuals with ultrasonography-diagnosed NAFLD. As compared with subjects at low probability of liver fibrosis, individuals at high and intermediate probability showed an unfavorable cardio-metabolic risk profile having significantly higher values of waist circumference, insulin resistance, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, uric acid and lower insulin-like growth factor-1 levels. Individuals at high and intermediate probability of liver fibrosis have lower eGFR after adjustment for gender, smoking, glucose tolerance status, homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index), diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, statin therapy, anti-diabetes and anti-hypertensive treatments (P = 0.001). Individuals at high probability of liver fibrosis had a 5.1-fold increased risk of having CKD (OR 5.13, 95%CI 1.13-23.28; P = 0.03) as compared with individuals at low probability after adjustment for age, gender, and BMI. After adjustment for glucose tolerance status, statin therapy, and anti-hypertensive treatment in addition to gender, individuals at high probability of liver fibrosis had a 3.9-fold increased risk of CKD (OR 3.94, 95%CI 1.11-14.05; P = 0.03) as compared with individuals at low probability. In conclusion, advanced liver fibrosis, determined by noninvasive fibrosis markers, is associated with CKD independently from other known factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Fatty Liver / complications*
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism
  • Fatty Liver / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis / physiopathology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / complications*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / metabolism
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Italian Ministry of University grant FIRB/MERIT RBNE08NKH7_002 to Giorgio Sesti. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.