Changes in lipid metabolism in chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between certain biochemical parameters of lipid metabolism in the serum and steatosis in the liver.


METHODS
The grade of steatosis (0-3) and histological activity index (HAI, 0-18) in liver biopsy specimens were correlated with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in 142 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C), and 28 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The serum parameters were further correlated with 1,797 age and sex matched control patients without any liver diseases.


RESULTS
Steatosis was detected in 90 out of 142 specimens (63%) with CH-C. The ALT levels correlated with the grade of steatosis, both in patients with CH-C and NAFLD (P<0.01). Inserting the score values of steatosis as part of the HAI, correlation with the ALT level (P<0.00001) was found. The triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly lower in patients with CH-C (with and without steatosis), compared to the NAFLD group and to the virus-free control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirms the importance of liver steatosis in CH-C which correlates with lower lipid levels in the sera. Inclusion of the score of steatosis into HAI, in case of CH-C might reflect the alterations in the liver tissue more precisely, while correlating with the ALT enzyme elevation.
Jármay
Katalin
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University, Szeged, PO Box 469, H-6701, Hungary. jaka@efk.u-szeged.hu
Karácsony
Gizella
G
Nagy
András
A
Schaff
Zsuzsa
Z
D000328:Adult; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides