A Case-control Study to Evaluate the Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Patients with Moderate-to-severe Psoriasis.

Objective

International case-control studies have demonstrated that psoriasis is associated with an increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of the present study was to establish an association of psoriasis and NAFLD in patients attending a dermatology clinic center in the United States.

Design

This was an observational, case-control study.

Setting

The study setting was an outpatient dermatology clinic of the George Washington Medical Faculty Associates in Washington DC.

Participants

One hundred fifty-one adult patients with psoriasis and 51 control subjects were recruited. Measurements: NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography after excluding secondary causes of liver disease. Regression analysis was used to assess the associations between: 1) NAFLD and psoriasis and 2) metabolic syndrome components and NAFLD among psoriasis patients.

Results

NAFLD was more prevalent in patients with psoriasis (21.2% vs. 7.8%, p<0.04). However, psoriasis was not associated with NAFLD when matching for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio: 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-13.6; p=0.25). As compared to patients with psoriasis but without NAFLD, those with NAFLD were more likely to have obesity (BMI: 34.9 vs. 27.2, 95% CI: 32.4-37.5 vs. 25.9-28.5; p<0.01). NAFLD in patients with psoriasis was also associated with select components of metabolic syndrome, including hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.

Conclusion

Our findings show there is an association of psoriasis with NAFLD. Our findings also suggest an increased presence of metabolic syndrome components in patients with psoriasis and NAFLD. Trial registry: NCT00930384.