AUTHOR=Tarantino Giovanni , Barrea Luigi , Capone Domenico , Citro Vincenzo , Mosca Teresa , Savastano Silvia 

TITLE=Hematocrit Values Predict Carotid Intimal-Media Thickness in Obese Patients With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00203

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2018.00203

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=Background 
Literature data  suggest with  some criticism that  full-fledged cardio-vascular events (acute or chronic) are likely predicted by blood components, which are reported to be associated with the  presence/severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
This study was aimed at determining which marker(s) derived from blood count, such as white blood cells, neutrophils, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet count, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit values were associated with early-stage or subclinical atherosclerosis, in obese patients of various classes suffering from NAFLD. 
Methods
One hundred consecutive obese patients presenting NAFLD at ultrasound, with low prevalence of co-morbidities and no history or instrumental features of cardiovascular diseases, underwent carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) assessment by doppler ultrasonography. All of them were  studied taking into account anthropometric parameters,  the metabolic profile and inflammatory markers. 
Results
 White blood cells and neutrophil count showed no statistical association with IMT, which was predicted by the amount of visceral adiposity, as appreciated by ultrasonography. 
After adjusting for visceral adiposity and smoking status, only age and hematocrit contextually predicted early atherosclerosis, evaluated as IMT. Visceral adiposity was a confounding factor in foreseeing IMT.
Conclusion
Hematocrit values along with the patient’s age could suggest an initial atherosclerosis; the fact that this blood test is inexpensive, widely available, easy to carry out  and interpret indeed represents an added value.