The Impact of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease on Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract Background: Early diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is crucial for preventing both the fatal vas-cular disorders associated with NAFLD and the underlying process of NAFLD. This study sought to determine the signifi-cance of the relationships among NAFLD, metabolic syndrome (MS), and carotid intimal thickness (CIMT) as risk factors for ischemic cerebrovascular strokes. Aim of Study: This study was to assess the relation between NAFLD, metabolic syndrome, and carotid intimal thickness (CIMT), as well as detect the value of these relations as a risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular strokes. Hence, neurooncological abnormalities should be interpret-ed within the context of the clinical picture of hepatic patients. Material and Methods: A total of 102 participants were split into two groups for this case-control observational analyt-ic study: 52 patients with NAFLD and metabolic syndrome and 50 control subjects. Measurements of carotid intimal thickness were made using the carotid duplex method. Results: Our results showed that NAFLD is significantly associated with increased carotid intimal thickness, as in our study, 23 patients (44.23%) of the case group had a risk of cer-ebrovascular stroke compared to no such risk in the control group. From the 23 patients in the case group who had a risk of cerebrovascular stroke, 19 patients (79.2%) had NAFLD plus metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: NAFLD is a risk factor for cerebrovascular stroke, and this risk is significantly increased (five times) in the association of metabolic syndrome, so patients with fatty liv-er should be investigated for other factors for ischemic strokes (cerebrovascular and cardiovascular) and guarded against them.