Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients - significance of ALT

Abstract

Introduction:Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common chronic liver condition. More than 70% of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have a fatty liver disease – Non Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); progression of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) dramatically increases the risks of liver diseases like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Aims & Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the elevation of liver enzymes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and NAFLD.Materials & Methods:The current cross sectional type of study was carried out in a super speciality hospital, Medical college , in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. USG Abdomen was done in all patients to diagnose fatty liver. Clinical History ,BMI, Lipid Profile, and Liver function tests ( enzymes)was done in all patients .Statistical analysis of the data is done using SPSS version 16.Results: The study was done in 100 patients , and out of them , 62% patients were males and 38% were females. These patients, divided into two groups, one with normal ALT and the other with elevated ALT enzyme levels. The patients with Type 2 DM and fatty liver, is 62% and patients with NAFLD is 46%. AST and GGT and ALP  enzymes were found normal in these patients with NAFLD. Area under curve for the ROC for predicting fatty liver was solely based on elevated ALT and it was 0.88.Conclusion: NAFLD is highly prevalent in patients with Type 2 DM. Hence screening for abnormal  liver parameters in T2DM and NAFLD, helps to minimise liver morbidity and in the diabetic population.