Influence of ethnicity on histological differences in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies examining ethnic differences in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited by small sample sizes and the lack of liver biopsy as a diagnostic modality.


METHODS
We retrospectively examined the influence of ethnicity on the biochemical and liver histological differences in NAFLD patients.


RESULTS
The proportion of African Americans (AA) in the NAFLD sample (total 238 patients; 15.1% AA) was lower than in the base population (68.2%). Median ALT (47 IU/L; p=0.05) and triglyceride (134mg/dL, p=0.002) levels were lower in AA than other ethnicities. AA showed lower degrees of steatosis [odds ratio (OR) 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.89; p=0.02] than Whites. In contrast, Asians showed higher grades of ballooning than Whites (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.03-6.93; p=0.04) and other ethnicities combined (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.06-6.92; p=0.04). Hispanics showed a higher rate of Mallory bodies than Whites (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.05-5.39; p=0.04) and other ethnicities combined (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.09-5.34; p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
African Americans showed a lower degree of steatosis than Whites. In contrast, Asians and Hispanics showed higher grades of ballooning and Mallory bodies, respectively, than Whites and other ethnicities combined. These findings highlight the need for prospective studies to evaluate ethnic differences in NAFLD.
Mohanty
Smruti R
SR
Department of Medicine, Center for Liver Diseases, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 7120, Chicago, IL 60637-1463, USA. smohanty@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Troy
Tara N
TN
Huo
Dezheng
D
O'Brien
Bridget L
BL
Jensen
Donald M
DM
Hart
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase