Ralph L. Widya MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Jos Westenberg PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Renee De Mutsert, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Karin Gast, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Martin den Heijer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Saskia le Cessie PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jan W. A. Smit MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wouter J. Jukema MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Astellas Group Research Grant, AstraZeneca PLC Research Grant, BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co KG Research Grant, Boston Scientific Corporation Research Grant, DAIICHI SANKYO Group Research Grant, Eli Lilly and Company Research Grant, sanofi-aventis Group Research Grant, Medtronic, Inc Research Grant, Merck & Co, Inc Research Grant, Pfizer Inc Research Grant, OrbusNeich Research Grant, Novartis AG Research Grant, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Research Grant, SERVIER Research Grant, The Medicine Company Speaker, Astellas Group Speaker, AstraZeneca PLC Speaker, BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co KG Speaker, Boston Scientific Corporation Speaker, DAIICHI SANKYO Group Speaker, Eli Lilly and Company Speaker, sanofi-aventis Group Speaker, Medtronic, Inc Speaker, Merck & Co, Inc Speaker, Pfizer Inc Speaker, OrbusNeich Speaker, Novartis AG Speaker, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Speaker, SERVIER Speaker, The Medicines Company

Frits R. Rosendaal MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Albert De Roos MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hildo J. Lamb MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease, and whether or not these relationships were confounded by the metabolic syndrome and abdominal adiposity.

This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline measurements of the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study, a cohort of persons aged 45-65 years. MR spectroscopy and imaging were performed to assess hepatic triglyceride content, aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by ultrasonography. Linear regression analyses were performed to study associations between hepatic triglyceride content and regional aortic PWV and carotid IMT respectively, while adjusting for age, heart rate, blood pressure, sex, alcohol use, pack years smoking, anti-hypertensive drugs, components of the metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting glucose), VAT, and body fat.

The analysis included 1,686 participants, 55.0±5.9 years old (mean±SD), and BMI of 25.3 (22.8-27.7) kg/m2 (median [interquartile range]). Median hepatic triglyceride content was 2.44 (1.25-5.81)%. Aortic PWV, except for the aortic arch, and carotid IMT were higher in participants with NAFLD. After adjusting for metabolic syndrome and VAT, a 10-fold increase in hepatic triglyceride content increased mean total aortic PWV with 0.212 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.038,0.387), descending aortic PWV with 0.297 (95%CI:0.023,0.572), and abdominal descending aortic PWV with 0.434 (95%CI:0.057,0.812). Mean carotid IMT increased with 0.017 (95%CI:0.002,0.032) after adjusting for metabolic syndrome, and with 0.016 (95%CI:-0.000,0.032) after adjusting for metabolic syndrome and VAT.

NAFLD is associated with aortic stiffness, in particular stiffness of the descending aorta, independent of the metabolic syndrome and visceral adiposity. NAFLD is similarly associated with carotid IMT but not independent of visceral adiposity. Altogether, these results suggest a unique contribution of NAFLD to subclinical vascular impairment.

Our results may suggest that fatty liver has a unique role in the development of subclinical cardiovascular disease, which emphasizes the importance of monitoring fatty liver and may lead to developing new therapeutic strategies.

Widya, R, Westenberg, J, De Mutsert, R, Gast, K, den Heijer, M, le Cessie, S, Smit, J, Jukema, W, Rosendaal, F, De Roos, A, Lamb, H, Hepatic Triglyceride Content is Associated with Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: The NEO Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14009317.html