EFFECTIVENESS OF NON-INVASIVE METHODS FOR ASSESSING FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH NAFLD AND IR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-9067-2024-28-5Keywords:
insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin, liver, metabolic syndromeAbstract
Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread condition that can progress to severe liver complications, including fibrosis and cirrhosis. Early detection of liver fibrosis is critical for preventing disease progression and reducing the risk of liver-related complications. This study aimed to assess the utility of non-invasive methods, including elastography and fibrosis scoring systems, in evaluating liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD and insulin resistance (IR). Methods: This study enrolled 76 patients, consisting of 45 females and 31 males, aged 25 to 60 years. All participants underwent biochemical tests, transient elastography for liver stiffness measurement, and noninvasive fibrosis scoring using FibroTest, FIB-4, and NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between elastography and the fibrosis scores. Results: The results indicated that liver stiffness measured by elastography was significantly correlated with the fibrosis scores (FibroTest, FIB-4, NFS), with strong positive correlations between these methods (r = 0.929, p < 0.01; r = 0.883, p < 0.01; r = 0.533, p < 0.01). Biochemical markers showed mild deviations, but they were not sufficient to conclusively indicate advanced fibrosis on their own. However, the combination of elastography and non-invasive fibrosis scores effectively identified patients with early stages of fibrosis. Conclusion: The integration of elastography with non-invasive fibrosis scoring systems (FibroTest, FIB-4, and NFS) offers a reliable and non-invasive approach to accurately assess liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients with comorbid insulin resistance. This combination of methods provides a promising alternative to liver biopsy for diagnosing and monitoring fibrosis, enabling more effective patient management and early intervention.
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