Hypertension and fatty liver: guilty by association?

• Published in: Journal of human hypertension Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 264 - 270
• Main Authors: BROOKES, M. J, COOPER, B. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.04.2007; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Care and treatment; Cirrhosis; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Complications and side effects; Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; Exercise; Fatty liver; Fatty Liver - complications; Fatty Liver - diagnosis; Fatty Liver - physiopathology; Fatty Liver - therapy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemodynamics. Rheology; Hepatitis; Hepatoma; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - physiopathology; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Medical sciences; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - complications; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Physiological aspects; Risk factors; Steatosis; Transaminases - blood; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; United Kingdom; Hypertension; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Liver; Cardiovascular disease; NASH; cirrhosis; hepatic steatosis
• ISSN: 0950-9240; 1476-5527
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.jhh.1002148

Essential hypertension is associated with the metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and the development of fatty liver. Fatty liver disease is a spectrum of liver diseases ranging from simple hepatic steatosis through steato-hepatitis to cirrhosis and hepatoma. The purpose of this review is to discuss the evidence for an association between essential hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and to consider the diagnosis and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We conclude that it is important to consider the diagnosis of fatty liver disease in hypertensive patients, to measure the liver function tests at diagnosis and not to ignore minor elevations of serum aminotransferases. Hypertensive patients with raised liver enzymes should be referred for further assessment, particularly if risk factors for progressive liver disease, such as obesity and diabetes, are present.