Autoimmune liver diseases are associated with an increased risk of diabetes, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the glucose-regulatory disturbances in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH, n = 19), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, n = 15), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC, n = 6). Healthy individuals (n = 24) and patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, n = 18) were included as controls. Blood samples were collected during a 120-min oral glucose tolerance test. We measured the concentrations of glucose, C-peptide, insulin, glucagon, and the two incretin hormones, glucose insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). We calculated the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), whole body insulin resistance (Matsuda index), insulin clearance, and insulinogenic index. All patient groups had increased fasting plasma glucose and impaired glucose responses compared with healthy controls. Beta-cell secretion was increased in AIH, PBC, and MASLD but not in PSC. Patients with AIH and MASLD had hyperglucagonemia and hepatic, as well as peripheral, insulin resistance and decreased insulin clearance, resulting in hyperinsulinemia. Patients with autoimmune liver disease had an increased GIP response, and those with AIH or PBC had an increased GLP-1 response. Our data demonstrate that the mechanism underlying glucose disturbances in patients with autoimmune liver disease differs from that underlying MASLD, including compensatory incretin responses in patients with autoimmune liver disease. Our results suggest that glucose disturbances are present at an early stage of the disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Patients with autoimmune liver disease but without overt diabetes display glucose disturbances early on in their disease course. We identified pathophysiological traits specific to these patients including altered incretin responses.

Increased plasma concentrations of glucagon (hyperglucagonemia) are reported in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and are considered a diabetogenic risk factor. Emerging evidence suggests that hepatic steatosis in obesity is causing a condition of resistance toward glucagon's effects on amino acid metabolism, resulting in an amino acid-induced hyperglucagonemia. We investigated the presence of hyperglucagonemia in individuals with biopsy-verified metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and whether body mass index (BMI), T2D, hepatic steatosis, and/or fibrosis contribute to this relationship. To dissect potential mechanisms, we also determined hepatic gene expression related to amino acid transport and catabolism. Individuals with MASLD had hyperglucagonemia {controls (n = 74) vs. MASLD (n = 106); median [Q1, Q3]; 4 [3, 7] vs. 8 [6, 13] pM), P < 0.0001} and were glucagon resistant (assessed by the glucagon-alanine index) {1.3 [0.9, 2.1] vs. 3.3 [2.1, 5.3] pM·mM, P < 0.0001}. These changes were associated with hepatic steatosis (P < 0.001, R2 > 0.25) independently of BMI, sex, age, and T2D. Plasma levels of glucagon were similar in individuals with MASLD when stratified on T2D status {MASLD-T2D (n = 52) vs. MASLD + T2D (n = 54); 8 [6, 11] vs. 8 [6, 13] pM, P = 0.34} and hepatic fibrosis {MASLD + F0 (n = 25) vs. MASLD + F1-F3 (n = 67); 8.4 [7.0, 13.3] vs. 7.9 [5.2, 11.6] pM, P = 0.43}. Obesity (BMI = 30 kg/m2) did not alter glucagon levels (P = 0.65) within groups (control/MASLD). The mRNA expression of proteins involved in amino acid transport and catabolism was downregulated in MASLD. Thus, relative hyperglucagonemia is present in individuals with biopsy-verified MASLD, and hepatic steatosis partially drives hyperglucagonemia and glucagon resistance, irrespective of T2D, BMI, and hepatic fibrosis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) present with increased plasma levels of glucagon (hyperglucagonemia), irrespective of body mass index (BMI) and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, MASLD and the resultant hyperglucagonemia may act as a diabetogenic risk factor. Notably, hepatic steatosis was a significant contributor to the hyperglucagonemia in MASLD, potentially unveiling a pathway for the hyperglucagonemia in some patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Abdominal ultrasound (US) and CT are important tools for the initial evaluation of patients with liver disease. Our study aimed to determine the accuracy of these methods for diagnosing cirrhosis. Methods: In all, 377 participants from 4 prospective cohort studies evaluating patients with various liver diseases were included. All patients were included between 2017 and 2022 and had undergone a liver biopsy as well as US and/or CT. Using the histological assessment as the gold standard, we calculated diagnostic accuracy for US and CT. Liver biopsies were evaluated by expert histopathologists and diagnostic scans by experienced radiologists. Results: The mean age was 54 ± 14 years and 47% were female. Most patients had NAFLD (58.3%) or alcohol-associated liver disease (25.5%). The liver biopsy showed cirrhosis in 147 patients (39.0%). Eighty-three patients with cirrhosis had Child-Pugh A (56.4% of patients with cirrhosis) and 64 had Child-Pugh B/C (43.6%). Overall, the sensitivity for diagnosing cirrhosis by US was 0.71 (95% CI 0.62–0.79) and for CT 0.74 (95% CI 0.64–0.83). The specificity was high for US (0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.97) and for CT (0.93, 95% CI 0.83–0.98). When evaluating patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis, sensitivity was only 0.62 (95% CI 0.49–0.74) for US and 0.60 (95% CI 0.43–0.75) for CT. For patients with Child-Pugh B/C, sensitivity was 0.83 (95% CI 0.70–0.92) for US and 0.87 (95% CI 0.74–0.95) for CT. When limiting our analysis to NAFLD (20% with cirrhosis), the sensitivity for US was 0.45 (95% CI 0.28–0.64) and specificity was 0.97 (95% CI 0.93–0.99). Conclusion: US and CT show moderate sensitivity and may potentially overlook compensated cirrhosis underlining the need for additional diagnostic testing.

of people with cirrhosis remains suboptimal.These data are limited by focusing on one hospital's liver clinic and no data of follow-up at other health services, but suggest greater resourcing streamline linkage of people diagnosed with cirrhosis by Fibroscan into specialist care is warranted. FRI219Comparative assessment of noninvasive methods (NIMs)-LIVERFASt, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with transient elastography (TE, Fibroscan) ELF and FiB-4-in a prospective cohort with chronic liver diseases (CLD) from a tertiary liver center

Gluco-regulatory disturbances such as hepatic insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and prediabetes are commonly present in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and those individuals may over time develop full-blown type 2 diabetes. Chronic liver diseases­ such as NAFLD and autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) are heterogenous but may affect glucose-metabolism similarly. It is, however, unknown if AILDs—such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) —display gluco-regulatory impairments. We therefore investigated glucose and hormonal responses during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in patients with biopsy-verified, non-cirrhotic PBC (n = 9, age 55 ± y (mean ± sd) , BMI 31 ± 6 kg/m2 (mean ± sd)) , NAFLD (n = 6, age 38 ± 17 y, BMI 31 ± 4 kg/m2) and healthy controls (n = 8, age 23 ± 3 y, BMI 23 ± 2 kg/m2) . None of the participants had diabetes. In the PBC group, 3 had NAFLD. Fasting glucose, c-peptide and insulin levels were significantly increased in PBC and NAFLD compared with healthy controls ([mean (95 % CI) ]; glucose (mM) 5.6 (4.7-6.7) , 5.7 (5.2-6.1) , 4.7 (3.9-5.6) ; c-peptide (pM) 993 (556-1773) , 1334 (1036-1719) , 483 (268-869) ; insulin (pM) 98 (33-298) , 166 (103-267) , 43 (14-136) ; respectively) . Hepatic insulin resistance (reflected by fasting homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) was present in PBC (mean 4.0 (95 % CI 1.2-13.9)) and NAFLD (7.0 (4.1-11.9)) but not in healthy controls (1.5 (0.4-5.4)) . There was no significant difference in glucose levels between the groups. Beta-cell secretion (c-peptide) was significantly increased in PBC and NAFLD. Insulin responses were higher in PBC and NAFLD compared with healthy but only reached statistical significance in NAFLD. Our data suggest that patients with PBC have gluco-regulatory disturbances including hepatic insulin resistance and impaired beta-cell function. Metabolic dysfunction of PBC may be underestimated and warrant further investigation. Disclosure A.H. Jensen: None. H. Ytting: Other Relationship; Gilead Sciences, Inc. J. Grandt: None. M.P. Werge: None. E.B. Rashu: None. L.E. Hetland: None. A. Junker: None. L. Hobolth: None. C. Mortensen: None. F. Tofteng: None. M. Vyberg: None. R. Serizawa: Consultant; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. L. Gluud: Advisory Panel; Novo Nordisk. Consultant; Pfizer Inc. Research Support; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Sobi. N.J. Wewer Albrechtsen: Research Support; Mercodia AB, Novo Nordisk, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Merck & Co., Inc., Mercodia AB. Funding Nicolai J. Wewer Albrechtsen were financed by NNF Excellence Emerging Investigator Grant – Endocrinology and Metabolism (Application No. NNF19OC0055001) , EFSD Future Leader Award (NNF21SA0072746) and DFF Sapere Aude