Lonardo A, Lombardini S, Scaglioni F, Ballestri S, Verrone AM, Bertolotti M, Carulli L, Ganazzi D, Carulli N, Loria P. Fatty liver, carotid disease and gallstones: A study of age-related associations. World J Gastroenterol 2006; 12(36): 5826-5833 [PMID: 17007049 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i36.5826]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Amedeo Lonardo, MD, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia-Azienda USL, Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Geriatrics, Ospedale di Baggiovara, Via Giardini, 41100 Modena, Italy. a.lonardo@libero.it
Article-Type of This Article
Clinical Research
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2006; 12(36): 5826-5833 Published online Sep 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i36.5826
Fatty liver, carotid disease and gallstones: A study of age-related associations
Amedeo Lonardo, Silvia Lombardini, Federica Scaglioni, Stefano Ballestri, Anna Maria Verrone, Marco Bertolotti, Lucia Carulli, Dorval Ganazzi, Nicola Carulli, Paola Loria
Amedeo Lonardo, Silvia Lombardini, Federica Scaglioni, Stefano Ballestri, Anna Maria Verrone, Marco Bertolotti, Lucia Carulli, Dorval Ganazzi, Nicola Carulli, Paola Loria, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia-Azienda USL, Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Geriatrics, Ospedale di Baggiovara, Via Giardini, Modena 41100, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by grants from Miur Ministero Istruzione Università e Ricerca Scientifica-PRIN 2004061213_001
Correspondence to: Amedeo Lonardo, MD, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia-Azienda USL, Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Geriatrics, Ospedale di Baggiovara, Via Giardini, 41100 Modena, Italy. a.lonardo@libero.it
Telephone: +39-59-3961807 Fax: +39-59-3961322
Received: April 1, 2006 Revised: August 2, 2006 Accepted: August 10, 2006 Published online: September 28, 2006
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) and plaques, gallstone disease (GD) and fatty liver (FL) as a function of age.
METHODS: In 449 subjects, FL and carotid disease were assessed ultrasonographically. In a subgroup of 65/449 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), carotid disease, GD and associated factors were determined.
RESULTS: FL of unspecified etiology was more common in younger and GD in older individuals. FL subjects had an increased prevalence of IMT and a decreased prevalence of plaques and manifested carotid disease earlier. Plaques were more common in subjects with GD. Age was an independent predictor of carotid disease outcome and FL was a protective factor for plaques. In NAFLD, there was an inverse correlation between body weight and age and the latter independently predicted carotid findings.
CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular risk in patients with FL and NAFLD needs to be assessed as a function of age and body weight.
