Fibroscan in Metabolic Syndrome: Indian Perspective

Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine liver stiffness in patients of metabolic syndrome with the help of fibroscan.<br><br>Materials and Method: It is a cross-sectional descriptive study of liver function (morphological and physiological changes) with the help of fibroscan in patients of metabolic syndrome, conducted on 47 patients. After a detailed history, patients of age ≥20 years and fulfilling criteria of metabolic syndrome according to the New International Diabetes Federation (IDF) were included in the study after consent. A record questionnaire of anthropometric parameters was recorded to all selected patients. Morning fasting venous blood samples were collected and assessed for the haematological and biochemical profile. All patients were subjected to ultrasonography of abdomen, upper g.i. endoscopy and fibroscan.<br><br>Results: Out of 47 patients, 19 (40%) were male, and 28 patients (60%) were female. The mean age of study participants was 61.21 ±12.25 years. The mean BMI of the study group was 28.76± 6.46 kg/m. 2 Mean waist circumference and hip circumference were 104.27±10.8, 100± 9 cm respectively. The mean waist-hip ratio was 1.04±0.09. In 47 patients 31 (66%) had FMSS (Fibroscan Median Stiffness Score) equal or less than 7 kPa, while 16 (34%) had FMSS more than 7 kPa. Mean FMSS was 8.5 ± 6.8 kPa. Age of patients in which FMSS more than 7 kPa was 66.69±12.6 years significantly older than FMSS equal to or less than 7 kPa was 58.39 ± 11.22 years (p value=0.026). Waist circumference and hip circumference were not different in both groups (p value &gt;0.05) but the waist/hip ratio was significantly higher in the group which FMSS more than 7 kPa, 1.07± 0.76 vs 1 in the group which FMSS equal to or less than 7 kPa (p value =0.002). Total cholesterol, VLDL, and triglyceride were not different in both the groups (p value &gt;0.05) but LDL cholesterol was significantly lower in the group which FMSS more than 7, 95.38±40.71 vs 125.68±46.7 in group which FMSS equal to or less than 7 kPa (p value=0.033). Serum albumin was significantly lower in the group which FMSS more than 7, 3.1(2.9-3.75) gm/dl while 4 (3-4) gm/dl in group which FMSS equal to or less than 7 kPa (p value=0.00). Total bilirubin was 1(1-1) mg/dl in the group which FMSS equal to or less than 7 kPa not different from 0.91(0.6-1.38) in group which FMSS more than 7 kPa (p value = 0.117) but direct and indirect bilirubin significantly higher in the group which FMSS more than 7 kPa than in group which FMSS equal to or less than 7 kPa (p value &lt; 0.05). Fatty liver on U.S.G does not always indicate true liver fibrosis.<br><br>Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome patients have high prevalence of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis. Higher age is associated with high FMSS (Fibroscan Median Stiffness Score). High waist-hip ratio instead of waist circumference was significantly correlated with high FMSS. Lower serum albumin, high direct and indirect serum bilirubin was significantly associated with high FMSS.<br><br>Funding: None to declare. <br><br>Declaration of Interest: None to declare. <br><br>Ethical Approval: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee (F1/Acad/MC/JU/17/1496 dated-23/1/2017)