Shear Wave Elastography Reveals a High Prevalence of NAFLD-related Fibrosis Even in Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract: Background The association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and advanced stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is well known. Some studies indicate a relevant prevalence also in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but so far there is only limited data. Objective To determine the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related liver fibrosis in individuals with T1DM and compare to those with type 2 diabetes. Methods Diabetic patients from a single diabetes care centre were screened for liver fibrosis by sonographic shear wave elastography (SWE). In addition, all patients received laboratory evaluation including non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis score and Fibrosis-4 Index. Results Three hundred and forty patients were included in the study, of these, 310 received SWE. Overall 254 patients (93 with type 1 and 161 with type 2 diabetes) had reliable measurements and were included in the final analysis. In patients with type 1 diabetes, the prevalence of NAFLD-related liver fibrosis was 16–21%, depending on the method of detection. Significant liver fibrosis was observed in 30–46% of patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusions Our data revealed an unexpectedly high prevalence of NAFLD-related liver fibrosis in patients with type 1 diabetes. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies using SWE to diagnose advanced NAFLD in type 1 diabetes in a non-preselected cohort. Considering the findings of our study, regular screening for hepatic complications must be recommended for all diabetic patients, even for those with type 1 diabetes.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Shear Wave Elastography Reveals a High Prevalence of NAFLD-related Fibrosis Even in Type 1 Diabetes ; day:16 ; month:11 ; year:2021 ; Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes ; (16.11.2021)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Contributor: Meyer, Gesine ; Dauth, Nina ; Grimm, Matthias ; Herrmann, Eva ; Bojunga, Joerg ; Friedrich-Rust, Mireen

Further information

• DOI: 10.1055/a-1666-0431
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022031916030550694881
• Rights: Kein Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 05.03.2026, 4:32 PM CET