Hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis B and C: predictors, distribution and effect on fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) are commonly associated with hepatic steatosis. The aims of this study were to investigate predictors of hepatic steatosis, and their impact on inflammation and fibrosis in CHB and CHC.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with either CHB or CHC who underwent a liver biopsy at The Alfred Hospital between April and September 2002 were included. Histological analysis of liver biopsies was performed by two hepatopathologists blinded to the clinical data.


RESULTS
Ninety-one patients were analysed including 17 patients with CHB and 74 with CHC. CHC genotype 3, C-peptide, glucose and waist circumference were independent predictors of extent of Brunt steatosis grade, while CHC genotype 3, C-peptide and waist circumference were independent predictors of microvesicular steatosis grade. Alcohol intake and age were predictors of hepatic fibrosis. There was a trend toward a correlation between both Brunt steatosis and microvesicular steatosis grades and fibrosis progression rate in CHC genotype non-3.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic steatosis is common in chronic hepatitis B and C, and is associated with waist circumference, glucose, C-peptide and chronic hepatitis C genotype 3. Steatosis grade appears to relate to hepatic fibrosis progression rate in chronic hepatitis C genotype non-3.
Gordon
Adam
A
Department of Gastroenterology, The Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran 3181, Vic., Australia.
McLean
Catriona A
CA
Pedersen
John S
JS
Bailey
Michael J
MJ
Roberts
Stuart K
SK
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide