[Non alcoholic steatohepatitis. Mid-term clinical and histologic course in 10 patients].
BACKGROUND
The progressive character of the hepatic lesions in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has not been well established. In the present study, the clinical and histological course of this condition was evaluated at medium term.


METHODS
Then patients (6 females and 4 males) with NASH, in a non-cirrhotic stage at the time of diagnosis, were followed up during 58 +/- 7 months (range 24 to 88 months).


RESULTS
Nine patients were obese, but a significant reduction of body weight was found at the end of the study (p = 0.0072). Other clinical, physical or laboratory changes were not found, although in two cases hepatic biochemical tests were within normal limits when the follow-up biopsy was performed. Changes in the characteristic hepatic features were also absent, although fat infiltrates disappeared in three cases. Six patients had increased fibrosis and a progression of the hepatic architectural distortion; four reached the stage of cirrhosis. The evolution of the hepatic lesion correlated with the interval between diagnostic and follow-up biopsies (r = 0.69; p less than 0.05) and with the reduction in body weight (r = 0.64; p less than 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In most cases, NASH results in a progressive hepatic distortion with can end in cirrhosis, although the change is slow and silent.
Moreno Sánchez
D
D
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid.
Casis Herce
B
B
Martín Algíbez
A
A
Nevado Santos
M
M
Ruiz-Delgado
F C
FC
Galvao Filho
O
O
Castellano Tortajada
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D013997:Time Factors
Esteatohepatitis no alcohólica. Evolución clínica e histológica a medio plazo de diez pacientes.