Correlation of NAFLD Fibrosis Score and BARD Score with Ultrasonographic Evidence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Overweight Patients: A Prospective Study

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fi brosis score and BARD score are two of the many noninvasive scoring systems used in the evaluation of the fi brosis in patients with NAFLD biochemically. Ultrasound (USG) is the most common imaging modality for detection of hepatic fi brosis, as it is inexpensive and easily available. Aims: This study attempts to correlate the biochemical and ultrasonographic evidence of fi brosis. It tries to correlate two noninvasive tools for assessing fi brosis in overweight population with NAFLD. Materials and Methods: Prospective study was conducted in which 106 patients participated with BMI; more than 25 underwent ultrasonography for evidence of fatty liver, which was then categorized in three grades, and also scored using biochemical parameters to obtain the NAFLD fi brosis score and BARD score. The scores were then compared with the grades of fatty liver on USG to see for correlation between the two. Results: No statistically signifi cant correlation was found between biochemical evidence of fi brosis and USG evidence of fi brosis in overweight patients of NAFLD. Conclusion: Thus, the biochemical evidence of fi brosis or NAFLD in the form of NAFLD fi brosis score did not correlate with USG evidence of fatty liver. The USG fi ndings of fatty liver may not directly correlate with actual fi brosis in these patients. Context: NAFLD is also an emerging disease in developing countries, which remains silent for years. Noninvasive methods are required for early diagnosis. This study attempts to correlate two noninvasive tools for assessing fi brosis in overweight population of NAFLD. Most of the patients of NAFLD are asymptomatic thus invasive methods are not routinely recommended in them. Thus, it becomes pertinent to study the noninvasive tools extensively for their possible additive use.