TABLE 1.
Demographic and clinical variables of the 90 patients included in the study
| Variable | PBC (30) | NAFLD (30) | CTRL (30) | p‐value | p‐value PBC vs. CTRL | p‐value NAFLD vs. CTRL | p‐value PBC vs. NAFLD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 59 (56–62.75) | 55 (51–63.75) | 55.5 (51.25–59) | .16 | — | — | — |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 22.85 (21.57–23.87) | 28.4 (24.40–32.09) | 22.50 (21.92–24.45) | <.0001 | .8 | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Active smoking | 4 (13.30) | 10 (33.30) | 5 (16.70) | .22 | — | — | — |
| Hypertension | 6 (20) | 9 (30) | 7 (23.30) | .75 | — | — | — |
| Family history of CVD | 16 (53.30) | 18 (60) | 15 (50) | .80 | — | — | — |
| Sedentary | 14 (46.70) | 19 (63.30) | 11 (36.70) | .14 | — | — | — |
| Diabetes | — | 5 (16.70) | — | .009 | — | — | — |
| Liver stiffness (kPa) | 5.40 (4.20–6) | 4.50 (4–6.60) | — | — | — | — | — |
| UDCA (mg/day) | 900 (787.5–900) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dl) | 225.5 (210.50–241.50) | 234 (212.5–259.75) | 230.5 (213.50–243.50) | .41 | — | — | — |
| LDL (mg/dl) | 144.5 (122.50–160.75) | 157.5 (129–169.75) | 138.5 (126.50–162) | .22 | — | — | — |
| HDL (mg/dl) | 64.5 (50.25–80) | 55.5 (49–63.25) | 62 (53.50–74.50) | .054 | — | — | — |
| Triglycerides (mg/dl) | 101 (76–122.5) | 119.5 (92.25–147) | 91 (78.5–112.75) | .03 | .04 | .01 | .65 |
| AST (IU/L) | 27.5 (24–30) | 22.5 (20–25) | 17 (14.25–19.75) | <.0001 | <.0001 | <.0001 | .02 |
| ALT (IU/L) | 26 (21–33) | 24 (21–46.25) | 15 (12–19.75) | <.0001 | <.0001 | <.0001 | .99 |
| ALP (IU/L) | 128 (88.25–185.75) | 86.5 (76–96.25) | 66 (59.25–84.25) | <.0001 | <.0001 | .04 | .002 |
| GGT (IU/L) | 42.5 (38–71) | 29.5 (19.5–54) | 14 (12–19) | <.0001 | <.0001 | <.0001 | .03 |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dl) | 0.54 (0.4–0.77) | 0.6 (0.5–0.77) | 0.5 (0.37–0.67) | .09 | — | — | — |
| PLTS (109/L) | 241.5 (209.75–265.25) | 258 (221.75–327.75) | 251 (229–285) | .25 | — | — | — |
Abbreviations: ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate transaminase; BMI, body mass index; CTRL, healthy controls; CVD, cardiovascular disease; GGT, gamma‐ glutamyl transferase; HDL, high‐ density lipoproteins; LDL, low‐ density lipoproteins; NAFLD, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease; PBC, primary biliary cholangitis; PLTS, platelets.
Note: Upper limit of normal (ULN): AST = 45 IU/mL; ALT = 45 IU/mL; ALP = 116 IU/mL; GGT = 36 IU/mL.
Liver stiffness was assessed by transient elastography.
Statistically significant comparisons are highlighted in bold.