Predictive Values of Serum Uric Acid and Alanine-aminotransferase for Fatty Liver Index in Montenegrin Population

BACKGROUND: Alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) and uric acid cut-off levels used in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diagnosis are advised to be lowered. Due to contradictory results on the utility of both these biomarkers for NAFLD screening, we aimed to determine their cut-off levels that can be applied to Montenegrin population with the fatty liver disease. METHODS: A total of 771 volunteers were enrolled. A fatty liver index (FLI) score ≥60 was used as proxy of NAFLD. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the area under the curve (AUC) was used to determine the cut-off values of ALT and uric acid associated with FLI ≥60. RESULTS: ALT was independent predictor of FLI in both men and women, whereas serum uric acid was its independent predictor only in women. Lower cut-off levels of ALT are associated with the increased prevalence of NAFLD [i.e., ALT was 19 IU/L (AUC=0.746, sensitivity 63%, specificity 72%, P<0.001) in women and 22 IU/L (AUC=0.804, sensitivity 61%, specificity 95%, P<0.001) in men]. The cut-off value for uric acid was 274 μmol/L (AUC=0.821, sensitivity 68%, specificity 82%, P<0.001) in women. CONCLUSIONS: Lower cut-off levels of ALT in both genders, and serum uric acid in females, can be reliable predictors of the FLI.