Relationship between ultrasonographic liver steatosis degree and oxidative/nitrosative stress in patients diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) remains the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. It is considered to be a complication of metabolic syndrome. The main element in intra- and extrahepatic disorders in MASLD is oxidative/nitrosative stress (ONS). The relationship between the increase and decrease in these markers and the degree of liver steatosis defined sonographically has not been specifically studied before. Methods: Patients in the MASLD spectrum were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of liver steatosis on ultrasonography (US). Patients without liver steatosis on US were taken as the control group. Nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were studied in the blood of these patients. Results: Changes in the degree of liver steatosis on US and changes in the studied parameters were found to be statistically significant. In addition, the cut-off values of NO and MDA were shown to be 8.98 and 2.375, respectively, in distinguishing the healthy control group from the patient group. Discussion: As the degree of liver steatosis increases on US, NO and MDA levels increase, while antioxidant enzymes CAT and SOD levels decrease. NO and MDA can be used to distinguish healthy and patient groups in the preliminary diagnosis of MASLD. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between the degree of liver steatosis on US and ONS parameters.