Comparative Analysis of Metabolic and Inflammatory Biomarker Profiles in Phenotypes of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in metabolic and inflammatory biomarker profiles across three metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) phenotypes. STUDY DESIGN: A comparative observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Hospital Kamra, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from November 2021 to March 2024. METHODOLOGY: This study included 393 patients (aged 20-70 years) with ultrasound-confirmed hepatic steatosis and a fatty liver index (FLI) ≥30. Patients were categorised into T2D-associated MAFLD (n = 134), obesity-MAFLD (n = 221), and lean-MAFLD (n = 38) groups according to the MAFLD diagnostic criteria. Healthy controls (n = 109) were included for comparison. Anthropometric parameters (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC]), biochemical markers (liver enzymes, lipid profile), inflammatory cytokines (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, adiponectin, leptin, cytokeratin-18, malondialdehyde), and markers of hepatic fibrosis were measured. RESULTS: MAFLD patients had higher BMI, WC, metabolic, and inflammatory biomarkers compared to healthy controls (p <0.001). T2D- MAFLD patients had elevated lipid profiles, liver enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, and fibrosis indices as compared to other two groups (p <0.001). The Obese-MAFLD group showed elevated triglycerides, FLI, cytokines, and leptin (p <0.001) compared to the lean-MAFLD group. Lean-MAFLD patients exhibited higher fasting glucose and blood pressure than the obese phenotype (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: The MAFLD phenotypes exhibit distinct biomarker profiles. The T2D-MAFLD group had the most severe metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction, while the obese-MAFLD group showed moderate liver and lipid abnormalities. The lean-MAFLD group had mild metabolic disturbances. Identifying phenotype-specific biomarkers may aid early detection, risk assessment, and personalised treatment to improve patient outcomes. KEY WORDS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, T2D MAFLD, Obese -MAFLD, Lean-MAFLD, Biochemical and inflammatory markers.
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414169388