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Liver fibrosis scores and coronary artery ectasia
Cihan Aydın1, Nadir Emlek2, Elif Ergül2
1Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University.
Insights
Non-invasive liver fibrosis scores, including APRI and FIB-4, are associated with coronary ectasia (CAE). These scores, along with NAFLD and Bard scores, can help predict CAE risk in patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hepatology
- Non-invasive diagnostics
Background:
- Non-invasive liver fibrosis scoring systems are established predictors of cardiovascular risk.
- The utility of these scoring systems, specifically APRI and FIB-4, in predicting coronary ectasia (CAE) remains unevaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between non-invasive liver fibrosis indicators (APRI, FIB-4) and coronary ectasia (CAE).
- To determine if these liver fibrosis markers can serve as predictors for CAE.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cross-sectional study involving 215 patients (108 with CAE, 107 without CAE).
- Evaluation of the relationships between APRI, FIB-4, NAFLD, and Bard scores with CAE diagnoses confirmed by angiography.
Main Results:
- APRI, FIB-4, NAFLD, and Bard scores were identified as independent predictors of CAE.
- Higher scores for FIB-4, APRI, NAFLD, and Bard were observed in patients with CAE.
- Moderate positive correlations were found between FIB-4, APRI, NAFLD scores and CAE. APRI score, low HDL, and Bard score were independent risk factors for CAE.
Conclusions:
- Non-invasive liver fibrosis scoring systems (APRI, FIB-4) are significantly associated with coronary ectasia (CAE).
- These scores, alongside NAFLD and Bard scores, demonstrate potential as predictive markers for CAE.
Background:
Although scoring systems showing liver fibrosis using non-invasive methods have been accepted as effective tools for predicting cardiovascular risk, their role in predicting coronary ectasia (CAE) has not been evaluated. This study investigated whether aprison (APRI) and fibrosis-4 indices (FIB-4), which are indicators of fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are associated with CAE.
Material And Methods:
A retrospective, cross-sectional study consisted of 215 patients, 108 with CAE and 107 without CAE, as diagnosed by angiography. The mean age of all patients was 61.8±9.9 yrs, and 171 (78.8 %) were males. The relationships between APRI, FIB-4, NAFLD, and Bard scores and CAE were evaluated.
Results:
APRI, FIB-4, NAFLD, and Bard scores were independent predictors of CAE. Fib 4, APRI, NAFLD, and Bard scores were higher in the CAE patients. There were a moderate, positive correlations for FIB-4, APRI, and NAFLD scores with coronary ectasia (r=0.55, p<0.001; r=0.52, p<0.001; r=0.51, p<0.001, respectively). A weak-moderate positive correlation was observed between the Bard score and CAE (r=0.34, p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate regression analysis showed that APRI score, low HDL, and Bard score were independent risk factors for CAE ectasia (p<0.001). Cut-off values to predict CAE as determined by ROC curve analysis were: FIB-4 index ≥1.43 (AUC=0.817, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.762 to 0.873, p<0.001), APRI index ≥0.25 (AUC=0.804, 95 % CI: 0.745 to 0.862, p<0.001), NAFLD score ≥-0.92 (AUC=0.798, 95 % CI: 0.738 to 0.857.p<0.001), Bard score ≥2 (AUC=0.691, 95 % CI: 0.621 to 0.761, p<0.001).
Conclusion:
APRI, FIB-4, NAFLD, and Bard scores are associated with CAE.
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