The Association between insulin resistance and fibrotic liver changes in Ultrasound-detected Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease patients (case-control study).

Objectives: Insulin resistance is a hallmark of diabetes mellitus, which is intimately linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is believed that NAFLD is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. A significant prognostic importance is associated with liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study examined the association between insulin resistance and fibrotic alterations in the liver in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) identified by ultrasound.

Methods: Fifty individuals with NAFLD identified by ultrasonography and laboratory investigations (liver functions and lipid profile) and fifty healthy control participants were included in the research. For insulin resistance, Fasting blood glucose and insulin level were measured for calculation of "homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance" (HOMA-IR).

Results: We found that when basic fatty liver develops into NASH and the degree of fibrosis rises, insulin resistance statistically substantially rises as well along with increased liver functions, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and decreased HDL and apoliprotein A1. Calculated HOMA-IR was statistically higher in group 1 compared to control group (7.8± 3.2 in group I vs in group II 0.9 ±0.2 with P <0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with fibrosis who had NAFLD had elevated HOMA-IR values. One easy-to-measure indicator of fibrosis independently of other factors is HOMA-IR.