Body Composition Associated with Liver Fibrosis Development in Patients With Psoriasis

For patients with psoriasis, body composition is associated with nonalcoholic hepatic fibrosis in both genders, but anthropometric data should be assessed differently in males and females.

Researchers performed a study to assess anthropometric measures in patients with psoriasis undergoing methotrexate therapy. Anthropometric assessments included body weight and body mass index (BMI), body composition analysis, and liver stiffness measurements.

Advanced liver fibrosis was present in 26.9% of patients. Liver stiffness was not correlated to the patient’s methotrexate doses. However, higher BMI values, total body fat percentage, and visceral fat scores were associated with higher liver stiffness in both males and females. In males, body fat percentage and visceral fat scores were correlated with liver stiffness. In females, only visceral fat scores were predictors of liver stiffness.

The authors wrote that the results present gender-specific differences in psoriasis regarding BMI and body composition (total body fat and visceral fat) values, in association with liver fibrosis development. More study is needed to clarify the pathogenetic background and the clinical significance of these findings, they added.

Reference

Brunner K, Oláh P, Moezzi M, et al. Association of nonalcoholic hepatic fibrosis with body composition in female and male psoriasis patients. Life (Basel). 2021;11(8):763. doi:10.3390/life11080763