Liver steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: host and viral risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Liver steatosis (LS) and chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are two common causes of chronic liver disease in Iran. LS is also a common histopathological feature of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Association of chronic HBV infection and LS has not been extensively studied.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the prevalence of histological evidence of LS in a group of patients with chronic HBV infection undergoing liver biopsy and compared clinical data, laboratory features, and severity of hepatic fibrosis between patients both with and without steatosis.


METHODS
A total of 132 patients with CHB, undergoing liver biopsy for diagnostic purposes over a 2-year period were enrolled in this study. Clinical, biochemical, and histological factors that might have any kind of association with the presence of steatosis were evaluated.


RESULTS
Of the 132 patients with a liver biopsy, steatosis was present in 56 (42.4%) of the patients, of whom 36 (64%) had grade 1, 14 (25%) grade 2, and six (10.7%) grade 3. Our data showed that LS is not associated with age, sex, HBeAg, viral load, amount of fibrosis, serum cholesterol level, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. Although body mass index, serum triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase showed significant correlation with LS in univariate analysis, in multivariate analysis only the serum triglyceride level was significantly correlated with LS.


CONCLUSIONS
Steatosis is a relatively common finding in CHB and metabolic host factors rather than viral factors responsible for the presence of steatosis in these patients.
Minakari
Mohammad
M
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. minakari@med.mui.ac.ir
Molaei
Mahsa
M
Shalmani
Hamid Mohaghegh
HM
Mohammad Alizadeh
Amir Houshang
AH
Jazi
Amir Hosein Davarpanah
AH
Naderi
Nosratollah
N
Shavakhi
Ahmad
A
Mashayekhi
Reza
R
Zali
Mohammad Reza
MR
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens