Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with coronary artery disease in Koreans

AIM:To investigate whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)affects coronary artery disease(CAD)and identify candidate mediators.METHODS:Patients who underwent coronary angiography were consecutively recruited.The patients were classified into four groups by coronary artery stenosis:A,insignificant;B,one-vessel disease;C,two-vessel disease;and D,three-vessel disease.Abdominal ultrasonography was performed to determine the presence of a fatty liver and categorize by grade:0,no evidence;1,mild;2,moderate;and 3,severe.We measured not only known CAD risk factors,but also serum insulin,HOMA-index,adiponectin,interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-αand high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels.RESULTS:Of the 134 patients who met the inclusion criteria,82(61.2%)had ultrasonographically diagnosed NAFLD.Among the 46 patients with CAD,37(80.4%)had evidence of a fatty liver.The two groups(A vs B-D)were significantly different in terms of age,total cholesterol,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein levels and fatty liver.Coronary artery stenosis was strongly associated with fatty liver in a grade-dependent manner(P=0.025).In binary logistic regression,NAFLD was a significant independent predictor of CAD(P=0.03,OR=1.685;95%CI:1.051-2.702).Among the candidate mediators,the serum adiponectin level showed a trend toward lowering based on CAD progression(P=0.071).CONCLUSION:NAFLD is an independent risk factor for CAD in a grade-dependent manner.Moreover,adiponectin might be related to the pathogenesis of NAFLD.

Ligamentum flavum hematoma following a traffic accident:A case report

BACKGROUND Ligamentum flavum hematoma(LFH)can cause compression of the spinal cord or nerve root,which results in neurological symptoms.We report a case of lumbar radicular pain due to LFH following a traffic accident.CASE SUMMARY A 59-year-old man complained of left buttock and lateral thigh pain that was dull in nature after a traffic accident 18 d prior to presentation.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),taken 17 d after the traffic accident,revealed a mass lesion at the L4-5 Level.These MRI findings suggested subacute LFH.The patient’s pain was not alleviated with conservative treatment,including oral medication and epidural steroid injection.After a partial-hemilaminectomy and removal of LFH,the patient’s pain completely disappeared.CONCLUSION Because early operation for decompression is important for a good outcome,clinicians should be able to determine LFH from MRI results and be aware of the possibility of LFH,especially in patients with a history of trauma.