MASLD in PLWH on ART: Predominance of Metabolic Risk Factors and Insights From Novel Biomarkers-A Cross-Sectional Study in Wrocław, Poland.

BackgroundMASLD (NAFLD) is the most common chronic hepatopathy and has a rising prevalence in PLWH, with etiological factors being interplay of HIV-specific with general ones.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study (n = 93). Patients were assessed in an outpatient clinic in Poland (April-October 2021) using clinical, metabolic data, irisin, CK-18, adiponectin, and leptin. Noninvasive formulas were used to assess the MASLD risk biochemically.ResultsNo statistically relevant differences in MASLD-related scores among different ART regimens were found, with weak correlations were found between CD4 count and NAFLD-LFS (R < .3), and ART duration with non-HDL-C (R = -.22) and NFS (R = .23). Lifetime weight amplitude showed relationship with biochemical MASLD-related formulas and hepatitis (P = .037); among the biomarkers, leptin exhibited several correlations, strongest with HSI (R = .56) and BMI (R = .53).ConclusionsMASLD corresponded more with general than with ART-related factors. Leptin may value when evaluating MASLD risk.