Study on the Correlation Between Urinary Transferrin and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can cause renal injury, and urinary transferrin (UTRF) is extremely sensitive to renal injury. We aimed to investigate the correlation between UTRF and NAFLD and to observe the distribution of NAFLD at different levels of UTRF.

METHODS

A total of 711 subjects fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of NAFLD and 1,396 healthy control participants were enrolled in this study. UTRF levels and other clinical and laboratory parameters were measured.

RESULTS

The UTRF level was higher in NAFLD than in non-NAFLD patients. Unit and multiple regression analysis showed that UTRF was an independent risk factor for NAFLD, with OR values of 1.474 (1.328 - 1.635, p < 0.001) and 1.435 (1.267 - 1.625, p < 0.001), respectively. The prevalence of UTRF (groups 1, 2, 3, 4) was 25.61%, 26.56%, 38.14%, and 44.59%, respectively (p < 0.001), and the prevalence of NAFLD in the high UTRF group was significantly higher than in the low UTRF group.

CONCLUSIONS

UTRF is an independent risk factor for NAFLD.