Fatty pancreas linked to cyst risk in diabetic patients, study finds
Researchers discovered that pancreatic fat accumulation independently increases the risk of cysts in people with diabetes, a finding that could reshape how clinicians screen and monitor this population. The discovery signals a new metabolic complication of diabetes that insurers, health systems, and pharmaceutical companies targeting metabolic disease should watch closely.
Originaltitel: Pancreatic steatosis is a risk factor for pancreatic cysts among patients with diabetes
OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether pancreatic steatosis is associated with the presence of pancreatic cysts among individuals with diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 158 individuals [mean age 66 ± 10 years, 81 (51%) female] with diabetes [135 (85%) had type 2 diabetes] participated in the study involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), blood tests and anthropometric measurements. Pancreatic steatosis was estimated qualitatively by a radiologist as well as using the pancreatic fat fraction. RESULTS: = 0.017], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic steatosis and older age are independently associated with the presence of pancreatic cysts in patients with diabetes. Despite some potential mechanistic links, prospective studies are needed to examine the possible causality.