Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore implications of serum interleukin-17 (IL-17), γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) level changes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). Methods A total of 122 patients with NAFLD were enrolled in our hospital between September 2022 and August 2024. Serum IL-17, IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were detected by flow fluorescent luminescence, and CAS was testified by ultrasonography. The influencing factors of CAS occurrence were analyzed by binary Logistic regression analysis. Results Prevalence of CAS in our series was 46.7%; there were significant differences as respect to blood pressure, body mass index, concomitant diabetes, coronary heart disease, fasting plasma glucose and uric acid between patients with and without CAS(P<0.05); serum IL-17 and IL-6 levels in patients with NAFLD and CAS were (51.2±8.6)pg/ml and (17.9±6.5)ng/ml, both significantly higher than [(42.1±7.3)pg/ml and (12.1±3.2)ng/ml, respectively, P＜0.05], while serum IFN-γ level was (171.0±23.4)ng/L, significantly lower than [(220.0±33.2)ng/L, P＜0.05] in those without CAS; there was also a significant difference respect to blood fat levels between the two groups (P＜0.05); multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that serum IL-17(OR=1.530, 95%CI:1.133-2.064), IFN-γ(OR=1.489,95%CI:1.170-1.895), IL-6(OR=1.511, 95%CI:1.144-1.996), hyperlipidemia(OR=1.578, 95%CI:1.160-2.146) and diabetes (OR=1.611, 95%CI:1.112-2.334) were all the independent risk factors for CAS occurrence (P＜0.05). Conclusion NAFLD patients could have more probability of CAS, which might be related to hyperlipidemia and cytokine involvement.

Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Carotid atherosclerosis, γ-interferon, Interleukin-17, Interleukin-6