Influence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis on the renal functional status in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease

Abstract

Background. Hepatic steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are considered the most common liver pathologies, which in developed countries is observed in 20–30% of the adult population. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) often develop non-specific kidney lesions such as asymptomatic bacteriuria, pyelonephritis, kidney carbuncle, kidney abscess, kidney tuberculosis, necrotizing papillitis, or papillary necrosis, which significantly complicate the course of diabetic nephropathy (DN). DN accounts for 40% of complications in type 1 DM and 5–15% among patients with type 2 DM. The purpose of the study is to clarify the impact of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis on the renal functional status in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease (DКD). Materials and methods. One hundred and sixty patients with NASH with comorbid type 2 DM of moderate severity and DКD stages I–IV were examined. A prospective study was conducted, which involved 160 patients and 30 practically healthy individuals. In particular, 25 patients with NASH and type 2 diabetes (group 1), 20 people with NASH and class I obesity (group 2), 70 patients with NASH stage I–IV (group 3), of whom 31 patients (44.3%) had DКD stage I–II (group 3a), 20 (28.6%) stage III (group 3b), 19 (27.1%) had DKD stage IV (group 3c). Results. In patients with NASH, type 2 DM, and DKD stage I–IV, hypoalbuminemia was found to be probably higher compared to that of patients with type 2 DM, DКD stage I–IV and without NASH that indicates the influence of NASH on the level of albuminemia; higher blood level of creatinine and urea; lower glomerular filtration rate, which confirms the negative effect of NASH on the course of type 2 DM with DКD. In the presence of NASH, patients with DКD had a higher level of albuminuria, urinary creatinine, albumin-creatinine ratio than if it’s absent. Conclusions. Indicators of the renal functional state in patients with NASH and type 2 DM varied depending on the presence of DКD and its stage. As the stage of DКD increased, the content of albumin in the blood decreased, the levels of creatinine and urea increased. The result of the detected changes was an increase in glomerular filtration rate, which indicates the phenomenon of hyperfiltration, which is specific for the initial stages of DКD.