Risk factors associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease evaluated by elastography in patients with type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT Objective: There is controversy about the indication for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) screening in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The present study aims to contribute to NAFLD surveillance in patients with T2D, assessing the association of clinical and biological variables with hepatic stiffness and steatosis. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional design was used, with data collection from electronic medical records, including adults with T2D who underwent transient elastography (TE) between June 2018 and December 2019. Liver stiffness and steatosis were evaluated using TE and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), respectively, with cutoff points > 8 kpa for increased stiffness and > 275 dBm for steatosis. The relationship between clinical variables and elastography results were evaluated by bivariate correlation and multivariate analysis, using SPSS 27. Seventy-nine patients (n = 79) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Advanced fibrosis and hepatic steatosis were detected in 17,7% and in 21,5% of the patients, respectively. There was a direct and significant correlation between CAP and BMI, waist circumference, HbA1c, triglycerides levels, and insulin doses and an inverse correlation with HDL. The waist circumference, low levels of HDL cholesterol and the insulin dose maintained a significant association with CAP values in multivariate analysis. Elastography values showed an inverse correlation with HDL and a direct correlation with BMI and insulin dose. The association was only maintained for the insulin dose in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Our results suggest that clinical factors such as insulin dose, waist circumference, and HDL cholesterol levels could identify T2D patients more likely to present NAFLD.

Is it necessary to increase the dose of levothyroxine in patients with hypothyroidism who use omeprazole?

OBJECTIVE: It is believed that gastric pH interferes in levothyroxine absorption. Omeprazole, which acts by blocking the secretion of gastric acid, might interfere in hypothyroidism control in patients using levothyroxine and this effect could be dose dependent. The present study aimed to investigate this possibility. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with primary hypothyroidism who had been using a stabilized levothyroxine dosage for at least one year were selected and randomly assigned to take omeprazole at the dosage of 40 mg or 20 mg per day. The mean levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) before and 3 months after omeprazole usage were compared in the entire sample and in each group. RESULTS: Ten patients concluded the entire treatment protocol in the 20 mg group and nine patients in the 40 mg group. There was no significant difference in TSH levels before and 3 months after omeprazole treatment in the entire patient sample (median levels: 2.28 vs. 2.30 mU/L, respectively: p = 0.56). Analysis of each subgroup (20 and 40 mg) showed no significant variation in TSH levels before and 3 months after omeprazole treatment (median levels: 2.24 vs. 2.42 mU/L, p = 0.62, and 2.28 vs. 2.30 mU/L, p = 0.82, respectively). No significant difference in the absolute (p = 0.93) or relative (p = 0.87) delta were observed between the two subgroups. CONCLUSION: Omeprazole in the dosage of 20 or 40 mg/day does not interfere in a clinically relevant manner in the treatment of patients with hypothyroidism that was previously under control.

Is it necessary to increase the dose of levothyroxine in patients with hypothyroidism who use omeprazole? / É necessário aumentar a dose de levotiroxina em pacientes com hipotireoidismo que usam omeprazol?

Objective It is believed that gastric pH interferes in levothyroxine absorption. Omeprazole, which acts by blocking the secretion of gastric acid, might interfere in hypothyroidism control in patients using levothyroxine and this effect could be dose dependent. The present study aimed to investigate this possibility. Subjects and methods Twenty-one patients with primary hypothyroidism who had been using a stabilized levothyroxine dosage for at least one year were selected and randomly assigned to take omeprazole at the dosage of 40 mg or 20 mg per day. The mean levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) before and 3 months after omeprazole usage were compared in the entire sample and in each group. Results Ten patients concluded the entire treatment protocol in the 20 mg group and nine patients in the 40 mg group. There was no significant difference in TSH levels before and 3 months after omeprazole treatment in the entire patient sample (median levels: 2.28 vs. 2.30 mU/L, respectively: p = 0.56). Analysis of each subgroup (20 and 40 mg) showed no significant variation in TSH levels before and 3 months after omeprazole treatment (median levels: 2.24 vs. 2.42 mU/L, p = 0.62, and 2.28 vs. 2.30 mU/L, p = 0.82, respectively). No significant difference in the absolute (p = 0.93) or relative (p = 0.87) delta were observed between the two subgroups. Conclusion Omeprazole in the dosage of 20 or 40 mg/day does not interfere in a clinically relevant manner in the treatment of patients with hypothyroidism that was previously under control. .

Objetivo Acredita-se que o pH gástrico possa interferir na absorção de levotiroxina. O omeprazol, ao inibir a secreção de ácido gástrico, poderia interferir no controle do hipotireoidismo em pacientes em uso de levotiroxina de forma dose-dependente. O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar essa hipótese. Sujeitos e métodos Vinte e um pacientes em uso de dose estável de levotiroxina por no mínimo um ano foram incluídos e aleatoriamente selecionados para iniciar o uso de omeprazol na dose de 40 mg ou 20 mg por dia. Foram comparados os níveis médios de hormônio tireoestimulante (TSH) antes e 3 meses após o uso de omeprazol, na amostra total e em cada grupo. Resultados Dez pacientes concluíram o protocolo de tratamento no grupo de 20 mg e nove, no grupo de 40 mg. Não houve diferença significativa nos níveis de TSH antes e 3 meses após terapia com omeprazol na amostra total de pacientes (média: 2,28 vs. 2,30 mU/L, respectivamente: p = 0,56). A análise de cada subgrupo (20 e 40 mg) não demonstrou variação significativa nos níveis de TSH antes e 3 meses após terapia com omeprazol (média: 2,24 vs. 2,42 mU/L, p = 0,62 e 2,28 vs. 2,30 um/L, p = 0,82, respectivamente). Não houve diferença significativa no delta absoluto (p = 0,93) ou relativo (p = 0,87) entre os dois subgrupos. Conclusão Omeprazol na dose de 20 ou 40 mg/dia não interfere de forma clinicamente relevante no tratamento de pacientes com hipotireoidismo previamente bem controlados. .