The role of mean platelet volume in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease without cardiovascular comorbidities, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: While the relation of mean platelet volume (MPV) with inflammatory diseases is obvious, its role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without cardiovascular comorbidities, obesity and diabetes mellitus is not clear. METHODS: A total of 249 patients (nonobese, nondiabetic and not having cardiac diseases) who underwent an abdominal ultrasonography assessment were enrolled. They were divided according to the absence (group 1) or presence (group 2) of hepatic steatosis. The patients with steatosis were further divided according to the severity of steatosis as group 2a (grade 1), 2b (grade 2) and 2c (grade 3). The demographic and laboratory features were compared between groups. RESULTS: Hepatic steatosis was absent in 120 patients and detected in 129 patients (grade 1, 2, 3 hepatic steatosis in 75, 49 and 5 patients, respectively). BMI, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio and serum AST, ALT, triglyceride levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively). BMI, serum AST and triglyceride levels were significant factors for NAFLD (P < 0.001, P = 0.018, P = 0.001). MPV was neither different between groups (P > 0.05) nor a predictor factor for NAFLD (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: MPV is a useless parameter to detect NAFLD without cardiovascular comorbidities, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Myocardial injury and acute renal failure associated with lactic acidosis due to suicide attempt with metformin.

Metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is one of the most important drug toxicities with a high morbidity and mortality rate. We report herein a case of suicide attempt with metformin presenting as MALA and acute renal failure on admission to emergency department and acute myocardial injury later on hospitalisation. An obvious improvement of metabolic parameters was seen in our patient provided by anti-ischaemic treatment together with bicarbonate infusion and haemodialysis. Although myocardial injury due to MALA is not a common disorder, we must be aware that metformin overdose with lack of tissue oxygenation, hypoperfusion, and arrhythmias may cause myocardial ischaemia.