Clinical and histological features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Hong Kong Chinese.
BACKGROUND
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is prevalent in affluent countries and is a cause of cirrhosis and possibly hepatocellular carcinoma.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the clinical and histological features of biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and investigate the predictors of severe histological disease in Chinese patients.


METHODS
Electronic records of all patients (n = 247) who underwent liver biopsy between 1996 and 2003 in our hospital were retrieved. Patients who had histological features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were identified. The demographic, clinical, laboratory and histological (Brunt's criteria) parameters of these patients were analysed.


RESULTS
Forty-two patients had histology-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The median age was 47 years (range 23-69). All except one patient had features of metabolic syndrome. The median alanine aminotransferase was 93 (range 24-270) IU/L. Thirty-six (85.7%) patients had steatohepatitis and 11 (26.1%) also had fibrosis. Only one patient had stage 3 fibrosis. The presence of diabetes mellitus predicted higher grade steatohepatitis and fibrosis (P = 0.019) whereas alanine aminotransferase level had no correlation with histological severity of steatohepatitis. After a median follow-up of 42 months, no patient developed hepatic decompensation.


CONCLUSIONS
Most Chinese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had features of the metabolic syndrome. Histological activity was generally mild. Diabetes mellitus was the most important predictor of severe histological disease.
Wong
V W-S
VW
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Chan
H L-Y
HL
Hui
A Y
AY
Chan
K-F
KF
Liew
C-T
CT
Chan
F K-L
FK
Sung
J J-Y
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies