Assessment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Grant number: 21/00372-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Ligia Yukie Sassaki
• Grantee: Marina Amorim Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic disease, as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), showing increasing prevalence in the population. Both diseases do not have their pathogenesis fully elucidated, however, more studies point to dysbiosis, compositional and metabolic changes in the microbiota, as one of the main mechanisms involved. Despite the increasing prevalence of NAFLD in the general population, there are few studies on the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with IBD. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with IBD and to assess factors associated with the presence of NAFLD in these patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach will be developed. Patients at the IBD outpatient clinic will be invited to participate in the study. Sociodemographic data, clinical data, disease activity, use of medications, presence of metabolic syndrome, biochemical data and data from liver ultrasound will be evaluated. Statistical analysis: descriptive analysis, association tests and logistic regression. Expected Results: It is expected to find moderate to high prevalence of NAFLD in patients with IBD. It is believed that the association factors are different between patients with IBD and those with IBD without NAFLD and that the presence of IBD itself is a risk factor for NAFLD. It is expected that the results of this study will be innovative and that, in the future, the results may contribute to understand the role of IBD as a risk factor for NAFLD, aiming to control the clinical factors associated with the disease and thus enabling the prevention of progression to liver cirrhosis.