Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41470883›Full record

Observational studyNutrients2025

Refining MASLD Phenotypes: Clinical, Metabolic, and Elastographic Differences Between Adipose Tissue Dysfunction and Obesity-Driven Disease.

Tudor Cosma, Lucretia Avram, Valer Donca, Alin Grosu, Laurentiu Stoicescu, Elena Buzdugan, Andrada Nemes, Andrei-Mihai Balan, Dana Crisan

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Tudor CosmaRegional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor", Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0009-0005-7626-1869
Lucretia AvramDepartment 5-Medical Specialties, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Geriatrics-Gerontology, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-2656-3234
Valer DoncaDepartment 5-Medical Specialties, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Geriatrics-Gerontology, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-0231-2131
Alin GrosuDepartment of Internal Medicine, 5th Medical Clinic, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Laurentiu StoicescuDepartment of Internal Medicine, 5th Medical Clinic, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-7451-1901
Elena BuzduganDepartment of Internal Medicine, 5th Medical Clinic, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Andrada NemesIntensive Care Unit Department 6, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-0600-6097
Andrei-Mihai BalanIntensive Care Unit Department 6, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-0038-7084
Dana CrisanDepartment of Internal Medicine, 5th Medical Clinic, Clinical Municipal Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-1627-9670

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a heterogeneous condition shaped by metabolic dysfunction, adipose tissue distribution, inflammatory activation, and body composition. Understanding how these factors interact across distinct clinical phenotypes is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification. This study aimed to compare metabolic, inflammatory, and elastographic profiles between MASLD subgroups defined by adipose tissue dysfunction (ATD) and obesity, and to identify pathways linking metabolic dysregulation to hepatic fibrosis.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional observational study including 178 adult participants evaluated clinically, biochemically, and by bioimpedance and shear wave elastography. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 82 years. Patients were stratified into a non-MASLD control group and two MASLD subgroups: MASLD with ATD (G1) and MASLD with obesity (G2). Anthropometric data, lipid profile, glycemic markers, cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), liver stiffness, and non-invasive fibrosis indices were compared across groups using standard statistical testing.

resultsPatients with MASLD showed higher liver stiffness, triglycerides, and IL-6/IL-10 levels than controls. Between MASLD phenotypes, the ATD group (G1) exhibited a more inflammatory and dysmetabolic profile, with significantly higher triglycerides, IL-6 levels, neutrophil counts, and creatinine, alongside trends suggesting early sarcopenic changes. In contrast, the obese phenotype (G2) demonstrated greater hepatic structural involvement, including higher liver stiffness and BMI, AST/ALT ratio and Diabetes (BARD) scores, despite more favorable inflammatory parameters. Several associations between liver stiffness, IL-6, and glycemic control approached but did not reach statistical significance.

conclusionsMASLD progression appears to follow two complementary but distinct mechanisms: an inflammatory, adipose dysfunction pathway dominated by IL-6 activation and early anabolic decline, and a metabolic-overload pathway driven by obesity. Phenotype-specific evaluation integrating inflammatory markers, metabolic indices, and elastographic parameters may improve risk stratification and inform personalized therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

Adipose TissueFatty LiverObesityAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiomarkersCross-Sectional StudiesCytokinesElasticity Imaging TechniquesFemaleHumansLiverLiver CirrhosisMaleMiddle AgedBiomarkersCytokinesadipose tissue dysfunctionliver stiffnessmetabolic syndromeobesity

Identifiers

PMID41470883
PMCPMC12735662

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.