Correlation of Radiologically Diagnosed Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver with Serum Uric Acid Levels

This study was to assess the correlation of radiologically diagnosed non alcoholic fatty liver disease with serum uric acid levels. It was a case control study conducted in a private sector tertiary care hospital in 2018. The study participants were recruited from the medicine ward while the healthy controls were taken from the general population. Non probability consecutive sampling technique was employed. Cases included were diagnosed with fatty liver through abdominal ultrasonography. Exclusion criteria was patients suffering from any other chronic illness that can lead to an echogenic liver on ultrasound (viral hepatitis and diabetes) and history of alcohol consumption. Highly significant difference was observed in mean serum uric acid levels and BMI in cases as compared to controls, with serum uric acid showing a positive linear relationship with fatty liver. Serum uric acid levels elevate with the progression of non alcoholic fatty liver disease. This finding brings a new insight of uric acid in clinical practice. Increased in serum uric acid levels might serve as a trigger for physician to screen for NAFLD.