నైరూప్య

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreatic disease : Is it mirror to NAFLD

Reda Mohamed Albadawy

Background: The pancreas and the liver are organs in which fat is most easily deposited. Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) comprises a wide spectrum of diseases from deposition of fat in the pancreas (fatty pancreas, pancreatic steatosis), to pancreatic inflammation (non-alcoholic steatopancreatitis), pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Aim: The aim was to study the association between Non Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease (NAFPD) and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

Methods: This study was conducted on 100 subjects (50 patients with sonographically proven NAFLD and 50 normal individuals selected from 165 subjects). Full history taking, clinical examination, routine laboratory and abdominal ultrasound were done.

Results: Concurrence of NAFPD and NAFLD on abdominal ultrasound was found in 38/50 patients (76%). There was statistically significant association of NAFLD with fatty pancreas severity. The present study revealed significant associations of fatty pancreas with aging, obesity, type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and dyslipidemia (higher levels of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglycerides, cholesterol/ HDL (Risk I), LDL/HDL (Risk II).

Conclusion: Fatty pancreas is a common finding during medical check-up and has significant association with NAFLD and other metabolic factors. Fatty pancreas could be an initial indicator of ectopic fat deposition and an earlier manifestation of metabolic syndrome than fatty liver.