title: Iron overload and genotype 3 are associated with liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine epidemiological, biochemical, virological, and histological factors associated with liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical histories of 53 patients biopsied for chronic hepatitis C diagnosis between June 2000 and December 2002 were retrospectively studied. Epidemiological, biochemical, and virological data were collected. Patients with hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus coinfection were excluded. Liver biopsy specimens were reviewed and scored by one pathologist. Weight and height were measured at liver biopsy time. The statistic association between qualitative and quantitative variables and the presence of liver steatosis was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Steatosis was identified in 52% of biopsies. There was no statistic association with age, sex, method of transmission, duration of infection, alcohol consumption, other diseases, body mass index, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, or viral load. Liver steatosis was associated with serum iron, transferrin saturation, and ferritin. Genotype 3 was also associated with steatosis. Piecemeal necrosis, hepatocellular injury, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, liver iron, and portal fibrosis were also associated with steatosis. A multivariate analysis showed that genotype 3, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, and liver iron were associated with the presence of steatosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C associates with genotype 3, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, and iron overload. Hepatic steatosis also associates with greater inflammation and fibrosis, and must be considered to contribute to disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Services of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Fernández Salazar
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Alvarez Gago
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aller de la Fuente
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orduña Domingo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arranz Santos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de la Calle Valverde
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: del Olmo Martín
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Luis Román
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González Hernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies