RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 In sleep apnea patients nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the severity of intermittent hypoxia and more severe endothelial dysfunction JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P1882 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Caroline Minville A1 Marie-Noëlle Hilleret A1 Renaud Tamisier A1 Patrick Levy A1 Jean-Pierre Zarski A1 Jean-Louis Pepin YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1882.abstract AB Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) begins with the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and elicits an inflammatory response that can progress to cardiovascular complications, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Intermittent hypoxia is a potential contributing factor but NAFLD has not been investigated in an unselected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) population. Beyond liver biopsy, there are non invasive validated tools allowing a screening of NAFLD in large populations.Aims: (i) To use non-invasive blood tests (Steatotest®, NASHtest® and Fibrotest®) to evaluate steatosis, Nonalcoholic Steato hepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis in a large cohort of OSA (II) To assess endothelial function by peripheral arterial tone (PAT).Patients: 226 subjects referred for suspicion of OSA were included (men: 55%, median age: 56 years, mean BMI: 34 kg/m2).Results: 61.5% of OSA patients exhibited advanced steatosis. By multivariate analysis, triglycerides (p<0.0001), insulin resistance (p=0.0004) and nocturnal cumulative time spent <90% of SaO2 (CT90) (p=0.01) were independent factors for liver steatosis. 38% of OSA displayed NASH (N1 or N2 with NASHtest®). CT90 was significantly associated with NASH (p=0.035) but this became non significant in multivariate analysis. Endothelial function was more impaired in OSA patients with advanced steatosis (p=0.04) and NASH (p=0.013).Discussion/Conclusion: In a large unselected population of OSA, the severity of intermittent hypoxia was independently associated with steatosis. Endothelial dysfunction was more severely impaired in OSA patients demonstrating NAFLD.