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Abdominal Adipose Tissue Fibrosis as an Obesity Biomarker in Clinical Practice
Marta Zorzano-Martínez1, Judit Pallares2, Marta Bueno1
1Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (RBLleida), Lleida, Spain.
Introduction:
The aims of the study were to describe a biopsy procedure to obtain subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) samples for fibrosis assessment in patients with adipose-based chronic disease (ABCD) and to explore potential associations between SAT fibrosis and comorbidities.
Methods:
Single-center, cross-sectional study conducted at the Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital (Lleida, Spain) between January and December 2024. We included patients aged 18-65 years attending their first appointment in the Obesity Unit. Between-group comparisons were performed using Student's t-test for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables, and correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.
Results:
58 patients were recruited and 50 were included in the final analysis. Most were female (76.0%), with a mean age of 47.1 years (SD: 10.8), and a mean BMI of 46.3 kg/m2 (SD: 5.0). The biopsy technique evolved over time, reducing the procedure duration from 55 min to under 10 min without any adverse events. SAT fibrosis was observed in 10 patients (20.0%), who showed a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (50.0% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.017), significantly higher aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, and elevated signs of liver fibrosis.
Conclusion:
SAT fibrosis was associated with ABCD comorbidities and could serve as a tool for risk stratification beyond traditional indicators.
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