Abstract
The prevalence and incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing due to the epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Many studies provided the evidence of the decreased flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and increased brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in patients with NAFLD. Recently, a link between NAFLD and hypertension along with new genetic expression, ADIPOQ C11377G and AGTR1 has been shown. It is putative that NAFLD may induce systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and increased vasoconstriction and decreased vasodilation, subsequently leading to hypertension. Under the systemic inflammation, it has been suggested that NAFLD may promote sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation, and local vasculature and renal inflammation, subsequently leading to hypertension. The author has reviewed the current knowledge of the link between NAFLD and hypertension along with new genetic expression in this article. It plausible that NAFLD is a multisystem disease and is associated with hepatic and extrahepatic disease.