Obesity, prior surgeries increase risk for hepatic steatosis in IBD

ORLANDO — The prevalence of hepatic steatosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease ranges, but occurs more often among those with obesity or metabolic syndrome and those with previous surgeries, according to a poster presentation at Advances in IBD 2017.

According to the researchers, prior research suggested an increased prevalence of hepatic steatosis in IBD, potentially related to chronic inflammation, drug-induced hepatotoxicity, malnutrition, intestinal dysbiosis and previous surgeries.

To assess the frequency of hepatic steatosis in IBD, the researchers assessed the controlled attenuation parameter or hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and fatty liver index (FLI) of 149 patients with IBD in a cross-sectional study.

Eighty-nine patients had Crohn’s disease and 60 had ulcerative colitis. Age, sex and mean CAP, HIS and FLI were similar among patients.

Overall, 41.7% of the cohort had hepatic steatosis based on CAP measurements higher than 248; 26.8% had hepatic steatosis based on HSI higher than 36; and 13.4% had hepatis steatosis based on FLI higher than 60.

Patients with CAP measurements higher than 248 were more likely to be men (P = .029), obese (P < .001) and have metabolic syndrome (P < .001), diabetes (P = .001), hypertension (P < .001), dyslipidemia (P = .001) and previous surgeries (P = .035). – by Talitha Bennett

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.