Liver mitochondrial DNA4977 deletion in alcoholic fatty liver disease and relation to ultrasound

Aim To screen for the mitochondrial DNA 4977bp (mtDNA⁴⁹⁷⁷) deletion in the patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to detect mtDNA⁴⁹⁷⁷ deletion within 90 cases of AFLD plus 90 of normal controls. The ultrasound examination was conducted for the liver tissues of AFLD to compare liver function, blood fat level, body weight, and mtDNA⁴⁹⁷⁷ deletion among different ultrasound grades of AFLD. Results With the aggravation of fatty change in live tissues of AFLD, deposition of both triglyceride (TG) and body mass index (BMI) in liver increased significantly (P<;0.05). The mtDNA⁴⁹⁷⁷ deletion was detected in 35.56% (thirty-two cases) of the AFLD patients tested and occurred primarily ultrasound grade II or III, giving a significant difference compared to grade 0/I and normal live tissues (P <;0.05). Conclusions A small portion of the AFLD patients had the mtDNA⁴⁹⁷⁷ deletion, and this mutation was detected only in high-grade fatty change of AFLD.