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Published on: August 28, 2018
Relationship of hepatic steatosis and alanine aminotransferase with coronary calcification
Dong-Hyuk Jung1, Yong-Jae Lee, Hong-Yup Ahn
1Department of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Hepatic steatosis and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are linked to coronary calcification. Individuals with both conditions show a higher risk, suggesting further cardiovascular evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hepatology
- Radiology
Background:
- Hepatic steatosis is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels correlate with hepatic steatosis severity and CVD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hepatic steatosis, serum ALT levels, and coronary calcification.
- To determine if combined hepatic steatosis and elevated ALT increase coronary atherosclerosis risk.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 1218 participants (ages 30-75).
- Hepatic steatosis and ALT (>30 U/L) evaluated categorically.
- Coronary calcification measured using multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT).
Main Results:
- Individuals with both hepatic steatosis and elevated ALT had significantly higher odds of coronary calcification (aOR 2.12; 95% CI 1.08-4.20).
- Increased ALT activity (10 U/L) correlated with greater coronary atherosclerosis risk.
- Elevated ALT alone was associated with increased coronary calcification risk (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 0.78-4.23).
Conclusions:
- Combined hepatic steatosis and elevated ALT are associated with coronary calcification.
- MDCT-detected coronary calcification serves as a marker for coronary atherosclerosis.
- Patients with both hepatic steatosis and elevated ALT warrant further cardiovascular assessment.
Background:
It has been observed that hepatic steatosis is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), an indicator of the severity of hepatic steatosis is also associated with CVD. This study focused on the relationship between hepatic steatosis and ALT with coronary calcification.
Methods:
We performed a cross-sectional study to examine the association between hepatic steatosis and serum ALT with coronary calcification in 1218 subjects (772 men, 446 women; ages 30-75 years). We evaluated hepatic steatosis and ALT as categorical variables, and constructed four groups (reference group; only with hepatic steatosis; only with ALT >30 U/L; with both hepatic steatosis and ALT >30 U/L), which did not overlap. Multi-detected row computed tomography (MDCT) was used to measure coronary calcium score.
Results:
The adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for coronary calcification in the four groups were 1.00 (reference), 1.24 (0.68-2.26), 1.82 (0.78-4.23), and 2.12 (1.08-4.20) after adjusting for confounding variables. In addition, an increase in serum ALT activity of 10 U/L was associated with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis.
Conclusions:
In summary, patients with both hepatic steatosis and increases in ALT are associated with coronary calcification as a marker of coronary atherosclerosis determined by MDCT. This finding suggested that subjects with both hepatic steatosis and increased ALT should be considered for further evaluation of coronary atherosclerosis.
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