Hepatic steatosis is associated with abnormal hepatic enzymes, visceral adiposity, altered myocardial glucose uptake measured by

backgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease that affects the liver and a variety of extra-hepatic organ systems. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hepatic steatosis and glucose metabolism in liver and extra-hepatic tissues and organs.

methodsThe whole body

resultsAmong the 191 patients, 33 (17.3%) were NAFLD, and 158 (82.7%) were non-NAFLD. There was no significant correlation between the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and CT density of liver as well as the ratio of spleen/liver CT densities. Hepatic steatosis, but not FDG intake, was more significant in NAFLD patients with abnormal liver function than those with normal liver function. Compared with the non-NAFLD patients, NAFLD patients had significantly reduced myocardial glucose metabolism, but significantly increased mediastinal blood pool, spleen SUVmean and abdominal adipose tissue volumes (including VAT and SAT volumes) (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that elevated serum ALT, increased abdominal VAT volume, and decreased myocardial FDG uptake were independent correlation factors for NAFLD. Further studies showed that hepatic steatosis and myocardial FDG uptake were mildly linearly correlated (r = 0.366 with hepatic CT density and - 0.236 with the ratio of spleen/liver CT densities, P < 0.05).

conclusionsNAFLD is a systemic disease that can lead to the change of glucose metabolism in some extra-hepatic tissues and organs, especially the myocardium.