A prospective study on the role of non-invasive tests in the evaluation of diabetes mellitus associated steatotic liver disease


İstemihan Z., Bektaş F., Bardak A. E., Kızıltaş C., Kemeç G., İmanov Z., ...More

Scientific Reports, vol.15, no.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1038/s41598-025-10230-8
  • Journal Name: Scientific Reports
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Fibroscan, Fibrosis, MASLD, Steatosis, Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

It was aimed to investigate the frequency of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with non-invasive tests. We prospectively evaluated the frequency of MASLD and fibrosis stage of the liver with biomarkers based on blood tests and FibroScan® in adult patients with T2DM who were followed up from the outpatient clinic in a tertiary center. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥ 8 kPa was accepted as clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2), and ≥ 12 kPa was accepted as advanced fibrosis (F3-4) in FibroScan® measurements. The cut-off value of the CAP score was accepted as 275 dB/m for steatosis. There were 504 patients with T2DM in the study. 54.2% were female. 252 (50%) patients had MASLD. 30.6% had clinically significant fibrosis, and 13.5% had advanced fibrosis. The degree of steatosis in the patients increased, the frequency of clinically significant fibrosis increased (p < 0.05). The frequency of MASLD significantly increased as BMI increased (p < 0.05). Diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy were more common in MASLD patients (p < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between clinically significant fibrosis and nephropathy (p < 0.001). MASLD and significant liver fibrosis are highly common in patients with T2DM. As the severity of liver steatosis increases, fibrosis stage progresses.