Non alcoholic fatty liver disease: a risk factor for myocardial dysfunction?

There is mounting evidence that besides increasing risk of cirrhosis, end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) also affects risk of disease in organs beyond the liver[1]. For example, NAFLD is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease[2], type 2 diabetes[3] and chronic kidney disease[4], and NAFLD also increases risk of cardiac arrhythmias and aortic valve disease [1]. However, whether NAFLD is a risk factor for impaired myocardial function is uncertain.In a study of 308 asymptomatic subjects recruited from attendees at a Health Promotion Centre in a University-affiliated tertiary care hospital in the Republic of Korea [5], the authors have identified subjects with (n=118) and without (n=190) NAFLD.
Source: Journal of Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research