Screening for Hyperuricemia in Patients With Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Hyperuricemia and MAFLD. Basic parameters: 18 years — 60 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Due to the established correlation between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), this study aims to screen for hyperuricemia in all patients diagnosed with MAFLD. The ultimate goal is to support the management of MAFLD and improve patients' quality of life by reducing both morbidity and mortality.
Detailed description
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become increasingly prevalent in recent years and is now considered a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, representing a major global public health challenge.
This growing prevalence is largely attributed to changes in lifestyle and dietary habits, making NAFLD the most common chronic liver condition globally, with an estimated global prevalence of 30.1%.
Recently, an international expert consensus proposed redefining NAFLD as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) to better reflect the disease's underlying metabolic basis. The diagnosis of MAFLD is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis in more than 5% of hepatocytes, in the absence of excessive alcohol intake or other causes of chronic liver disease. The diagnosis also requires at least one of the following three criteria: (1) overweight or obesity, (2) type 2 diabetes mellitus, or (3) evidence of metabolic dysregulation. Metabolic dysregulation is defined by the presence of at least two of the following abnormalities: increased waist circumference, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, prediabetes, insulin resistance, or elevated plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
"Burned-out" NAFLD has been suggested as a potential hidden cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis. Therefore, early detection and management of NAFLD and its metabolic risk factors are critical to prevent disease progression and hepatic failure.
Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism in the liver, with xanthine oxidase (XO) catalyzing the conversion of hypoxanthine to xanthine and subsequently to UA.
Abnormal UA metabolism is associated with various systemic diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia.
In recent years, increased interest has been directed toward the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and NAFLD severity. SUA has been identified as an independent risk factor significantly correlated with NAFLD severity, regardless of other metabolic markers. Studies have shown a 21% increase in NAFLD risk for every 1 mg/dL rise in SUA, and hyperuricemia is associated with a higher risk of advanced liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients.
Given the strong association between SUA levels and NAFLD progression, SUA-lowering therapy has emerged as a potential strategy for improving liver outcomes. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors, such as febuxostat and allopurinol, are commonly used to reduce SUA levels and have shown promise in improving liver histology in patients with NAFLD
Primary outcome measures
- Search for hyperuricemia in every patient with MAFLD [Time frame: At diagnosis and follow up after 6 month]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Adults aged over 18 years.
- Diagnosis of MAFLD based on abdominal ultrasonography or other validated imaging techniques.
Exclusion criteria
- Patients aged 18 years or younger.
- Pregnant individuals.
- Presence of any malignancy.
- Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
- Patients with fatty liver disease who have previously undergone bariatric surgery.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-only
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07053709 · 4-2025-300626