Type 2 diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease exhibit significant haemorheological abnormalities

Abstract

Haemorheological abnormalities have been described in diabetes mellitus, as well as in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the relationship between the changes in liver fat content and haemorheology is unknown. The current study aims to show the correlation between haemorheological parameters and intrahepatic lipid content (IHLC) in patients with type 2 diabetes. The serum biochemical markers, such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and haemorheological properties, were examined. IHLC was quantified using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) scanning of the liver. A significant correlation was observed between IHLC and whole blood viscosity at high, middle, and low shear rates. IHLC also positively correlated with haematocrit, the reduced whole blood viscosity at low and middle shear rates, and the erythrocyte aggregation index. Diabetic patients with NAFLD exhibited significant haemorheological abnormalities compared with patients without NAFLD. In summary, haemorheological disorders are linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver in type 2 diabetes.

Keywords

diabetes mellitus, type 2 / haemorheology / non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Jian-Ping Qi of the Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, for his valuable advice on ¹H-MRS methodology. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30801492).

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg