Markers of Early Liver Dysfunction Associate With Reduced Heart Rate Variability in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes.

Vallimayil Velayutham; Paul Z Benitez-Aguirre; Gerald Liew; Alicia J Jenkins; Maria E Craig; Kim C Donaghue
Abstract
<b>Aim:</b> Data on the impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) on diabetes complications in youth with type 1 diabetes are lacking. However, MAFLD is well known to contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate markers of MAFLD in youth with type 1 diabetes and their relationship with chronic complications. <b>Methods:</b> A prospective study of 102 adolescents (mean age 14.7 ± 1.9 years) with type 1 diabetes underwent repeated annual diabetes complications assessments, including annual measures of liver enzymes. Early cardiac autonomic nerve dysfunction (CAN) was defined as ≥1 abnormality in seven heart rate variability parameters derived from a 10-min resting electrocardiogram. Multivariate generalized estimating equations explored predictors of CAN and other microvascular complications (retinopathy and early kidney dysfunction). <b>Results:</b> After a median follow-up of 3.5 years (IQR 2.7-4.6), there were significant increases in the mean alanine transaminase level (ALT) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) percentiles. Upper ALT and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) tertiles (T3 vs. T1-2: odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05 [1.20, 3.48], and 2.99 [1.61, 5.58], respectively) predicted CAN development (23%, <i>n</i> = 24) independent of HbA1c and diabetes duration. They were not associated with retinopathy or early kidney dysfunction. <b>Conclusion:</b> Higher ALT and GGT associate with early CAN in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, suggesting hepatic inflammation may compound the impact of the diabetes milieu on systemic endothelial dysfunction.
Journal PEDIATRIC DIABETES
ISSN 1399-5448
Published 01 Jan 2025
Volume 2025
Issue
Pages 1910554
DOI 10.1155/pedi/1910554
Type Journal Article
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