Evaluation of thyroid function in patients diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study

Background Thyroid dysfunction and aberrant thyroid hormone signal production are associated with diabetes and liver-related conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Aim To assess thyroid function in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) patients and its relation to steatosis severity using transient elastography. Thyroid abnormalities were observed, indicating a potential link with steatosis. Patients and methods Techniques: a control group consisting of 30 patients with hepatic steatosis who did not satisfy the MAFLD diagnostic criteria was enrolled for this cross-sectional study alongside 70 male and female patients over 18 years old, who fulfilled the MAFLD criteria (group I). Transient elastography was performed on all patients, and each patient also underwent thyroid function tests. Results Contrasted with group II, group I had more significant levels of glucose tolerance tests, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, free triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine proportion, thyroid animating chemical T3 opposition record, triglyceride–glucose index, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance score. Thyroid-function tests showed a positive correlation with the grade of steatosis, steatosis score, and thyrotropin index, thyroid-stimulating hormone T3 resistance index (thyroid animating chemical T3 opposition record), and TyG index. Two cases were diagnosed as overt hypothyroidism, seven patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 61 were euthyroid, while in group II, all patients were euthyroid. Conclusions MAFLD patients have high risk of developing thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism, either overt or subclinical hypothyroidism. Even in MAFLD euthyroid patients, there is an alteration in thyroid sensitivity indices, which reflects the potential relationship between thyroid status and MAFLD.