Hepatic Steatosis is the Most Common Finding in Abdominal Ultrasonography Performed in Patients with Psoriasis before Biological Agent Treatment

Abstract

Psoriasis has been associated with metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We wanted to investigate the abdominal ultrasonography results of psoriasis patients before biological agent treatment. Between April 2019 and February 2022, abdominal ultrasonography results of psoriasis patients which were performed before biological agent treatment were reviewed retrospectively. This study included 90 patients, 45 females, and 45 males with a mean age of 48.91±13.43 years. The most common ultrasonography finding was increased echogenicity of the liver parenchyma due to steatosis (58.9%) which was followed by an increase in liver size (25.6%), kidney cysts (17.8%), gallstones (8.9%) and increase in spleen size (7.8%). Hepatic steatosis was more frequent in older patients (p 0.001), patients with diabetes (p=0.007), and patients who were previously treated with biological agents (p=0.007). 70.4% of the patients with moderate or severe hepatic steatosis were female. Herein, hepatic steatosis was detected in 53 (58.9%) patients. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which presents as hepatic steatosis in early stages has an asymptomatic course and poor prognosis in psoriasis patients. We suggest that abdominal ultrasonography should be performed in psoriasis patients before biological agent treatment, especially in females, patients with advanced age, patients who were previously treated with biological agents, and patients with diabetes.