Introduction Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent liver condition linked to metabolic disorders. Uric acid, a pro-inflammatory mediator, has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of MASLD. This study aims to analyze the relationship between serum uric acid levels and the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with MASLD. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital and its affiliated hospitals in Makassar form July to December 2025. A total of 128 adult patients diagnosed with MASLD were enrolled using consecutive sampling. All participants underwent serum uric acid measurement and liver fibrosis assessment using transient elastography (FibroScan). Fibrosis was categorized as non-significant (F0-F1) or significant (F2-F4). Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid >7.0 mg/dL in men and >6.0 mg/dL in women. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test to determine the association between uric acid levels and fibrosis. Results The mean age of the 128 participants was 49.8 ± 12 years, with a slight male predominance (52.3%). Significant fibrosis (F2-F4) was found in 56 patients (43.8%). Hyperuricemia was present in 65 patients (50.8%). The proportion of significant fibrosis was higher in the hyperuricemia group (52.3%) compared to the normal uric acid group (34.9%). The Chi-square analysis revealed a statistically significant association between hyperuricemia and the presence of significant liver fibrosis (χ 2 = 3.93; p = 0.047). Patients with hyperuricemia had a 2.04 times higher odds of having significant fibrosis compared to those with normal uric acid levels (OR = 2.044; 95% CI: 1.004–4.161). Conclusions There is a significant relationship between elevated serum uric acid levels and the presence of significant liver fibrosis in patients with MASLD. Hyperuricemia may serve as a simple, non-invasive biomarker for stratifying the risk of fibrosis in this population.
Amiruddin et al. (Sun,) studied this question.