Characterization of Liver Changes in Obese Patients using Computed Tomography

Abstract

Background Obesity is a reversible condition characterized by abnormal intra-visceral accumulation of triglyceride lipids, one of the risk factors is Fatty liver disease (FLD), the prevalence of obesity in Sudan has increased in the past years. FLD which is associated with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, central obesity, and dyslipidemia, results in morbidity and mortality due to the progression to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which may occur in up to 15% of cases. Methods This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and the changes in the liver (Size, texture and pathology) by computed tomography (CT) in order to better understand obesity risk factors such as fatty liver disease (FLD) specific for second type non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Results Over the 28-month period, 138 men and 62 women (n = 200) were recruited into the study. Their ages ranged from 17-79 years (mean, 48 years). BMI ranged from 25.2-39.8 kg/m2 (mean [SD], 32.5 [± 7] kg/m2). The mean (SD) BMI in the men was 30.6 (± 3.6) kg/m2 and that in the women was 35.7 (± 3.5) kg/m2. 76 patients had low-risk BMI (25-29.9 kg/m2) and liver volume mean was 1492cc, 64 patients had a moderate-risk BMI (30-34.9 kg/m2) and liver volume mean was 1559cc, and 60 patients had a high-risk BMI (35-39.9 kg/m2) and liver volume mean was 1831cc, fatty liver was 28% from all patients. Conclusions Our results indicated that the liver volume increased approximately linearly with increasing BMI, there is strong and near linear relationship between BMI and NAFLD. Fatty liver was high incidences in men than women, Gallbladder stones was the highest incidence rate among all BMI cottagers