TABLE 1.
Clinical and biochemical characteristics of the whole population according to disease status and histological features of patients with NAFLD
| Variables | Control Subjects | NAFLD Patients | Nominal P-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of subjects | 94 | 172 | — |
| Female/male | 63/31 | 123/49 | NS |
| Age (years) | 46.6 ± 11.3 | 55.3 ± 11.9 | 2 × 10−5 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 24.9 ± 4.4 | 32.5 ± 5.7 | 1 × 10−7 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 83.4 ± 16.0 | 103.7 ± 14.6 | 1 × 10−7 |
| SABP (mmHg) | 116.1 ± 13.8 | 122.5 ± 14.7 | 0.02 |
| DABP (mmHg) | 72.0 ± 9.0 | 76.3 ± 10.6 | 0.01 |
| Body fat content (%) | 29.6 ± 6.8 | 37.8 ± 7.3 | 1 × 10−6 |
| Fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) | 4.5 ± 0.6 | 5.7 ± 2.0 | 1 × 10−11 |
| Fasting plasma insulin (pmol/L) | 48.1 ± 36.1 | 94.6 ± 72.4 | 1 × 10−11 |
| HOMA index | 1.4 ± 1.2 | 3.5 ± 3.1 | 1 × 10−14 |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/L) | 5.4 ± 1.0 | 5.5 ± 1.4 | NS |
| HDL cholesterol (mmol/L) | 1.4 ± 0.3 | 1.2 ± 0.5 | 0.02 |
| LDL-cholesterol (mmol/L) | 3.3 ± 0.9 | 3.2 ± 1.4 | NS |
| Triglycerides (mmol/L) | 1.3 ± 0.8 | 1.9 ± 1.3 | 0.0001 |
| Uric acid (µmol/L) | 174 ± 7 | 258 ± 246 | 1 × 10−4 |
| ALT (U/L) | 16.7 ± 9.4 | 46.5 ± 51.4 | 1 × 10−11 |
| AST (U/L) | 18.5 ± 9.2 | 35.8 ± 25.4 | 1 × 10−11 |
| GGT (U/L) | 24.3 ± 23.1 | 54.1 ± 55.3 | 1 × 10−6 |
| AP (U/L) | 138.5 ± 56.7 | 225.5 ± 115.4 | 1 × 10−7 |
| Histological features of NAFLD patients | Simple steatosis patients | NASH patients | — |
| Number of subjects | 40 | 63 | — |
| Degree of steatosis | — | ||
| 1 | 11 | 6 | — |
| 2 | 18 | 22 | — |
| 3 | 11 | 35 | — |
| Necroinflammatory activity | |||
| 1 | NA | 26 | — |
| 2 | 35 | — | |
| 3 | 2 | — | |
| Fibrosis stage | |||
| 0 | NA | 31 | — |
| 1 | 19 | — | |
| 2 | 1 | — | |
| 3 | 11 | — | |
| 4 | 1 | — |
DABP: diastolic arterial blood pressure. Results are expressed as mean ± SD. Nominal P-value stands for statistical significance using Mann-Whitney Test. NS: non significant. All measurements are in SI units. NA: not applicable. Degree of steatosis: grade 1, <33% of hepatocytes containing macrovesicular fat droplets; grade 2, 33%–66% of hepatocytes containing macrovesicular fat droplets; and grade 3, >66% of hepatocytes containing macrovesicular fat droplets. Necroinflammatory activity: grade 1 (mild), grade 2 (moderate) and grade 3 (severe). Fibrosis stage: 0 = none, 1 = perivenular and/or perisinusoidal fibrosis in zone 3, 2 = combined pericellular portal fibrosis, 3 = septal/bridging fibrosis, and 4 = cirrhosis.