Clinical and histological features of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in Iranian patients.
BACKGROUND
Although several studies have been performed on risk factors and natural course of NASH, it seems that NASH tends to be more than a disease confined to strict boundaries. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical and paraclinical features and risk factors for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients in an Iranian population


METHODS
Patients with histologically confirmed NASH who had elevated liver aminotransaminases, negative serologic markers of viral or autoimmune hepatitis and no findings in favor of metabolic liver disease were enrolled. A careful history was taken regarding alcohol intake.


RESULTS
53 patients consisting of 32 male and 21 female entered the study. The mean age was 37.8 +/- 11.3 years. Twenty-six patients (55.3%) were overweight, 15 (31.9%) obese, 40 (75.5%) dyslipidemic, and three patients (5.7%) were diabetic. Liver biopsy showed mild steatosis in 35.7%, moderate steatosis in 53.6%, and severe forms in 10.7%. In 80.2% of patients, portal inflammation was present, and 9.4% had cirrhosis. The amount of increase in liver enzymes bore no relationship with fibrosis, portal inflammation, and degree of steatosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients in our study showed a male predominancy and were somewhat younger than other studies.
Bahrami
Hossein
H
Digestive Diseases Research Center-Imam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. dr_Bahrami@hotmail.com
Daryani
Nasser Ebrahimi
NE
Mirmomen
Shahram
S
Kamangar
Farin
F
Haghpanah
Babak
B
Djalili
Mehdi
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005218:Fat Necrosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution