DIFFERENCE IS SIGNIFICANT HIGHLY SENSITIVE C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AS A NON-INVASIVE MARKER OF NON ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE PREET SHAH Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai NAFLD N MEAN(±SD) MANN WHITNEY P VALUE YES 27 6.7±3.5 46.5 0.015 NO 8 4±1.7 DIFFERENCE IS SIGNIFICANT Introduction: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)causes increased delivery of fatty acids to the liver and inadequate fatty acid oxidation. It triggers necro-inflammatory response in the liver, leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Chronic low-grade inflammation plays a crucial role in cardiovascular events and DM. As NAFLD is associated with these diseases, it can be hypothesized that chronic inflammation may be the second hit to the liver for developing NAFLD. Highly Sensitive C-Reactive Protein(hs-CRP)is an acute phase reactant and a marker of inflammatory state. D Results: Mann Whitney test was applied to see the association of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and NAFLD. Out of 100 subjects,35 had elevated hsCRP levels. A higher mean value of 6.7±3.5 was seen in the NAFLD patients, as compared to those in whom NAFLD was absent, who had a mean value of 4±1.7. The p-value between these 2 groups was 0.015 which was significant. Conclusion: hsCRP is a useful non-invasive marker of NAFLD. Method: The association of hs-CRP and NAFLD in 100 subjects at a tertiary care centre was studied. These included inpatients as well as outpatients. Patients consuming alcohol, those using drugs known to cause hepatic steatosis, those having a medical condition known to cause hepatic steatosis, and those with viral hepatitis were excluded. Ultrasonography of the abdomen was used to detect fatty liver, and hs-CRP levels were tested using spectrophotometry method. Data was analysed using statistical analysis tools in SPSS software. Mann Whitney test was used to assess the association of hs-CRP and NAFLD. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. References: Yeniova AO, Küçükazman M, Ata N, et al. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is a strong predictor of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatogastroenterology. 2014;61(130):422-5 Nigam P, Bhatt SP, Misra A, et al. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is closely associated with sub-clinical inflammation: a case-control study on Asian Indians in North India. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(1):e49286