title: Factors associated with hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a retrospective study of a large cohort of U.S. patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the risk factors for stage 3 and 4 fibrosis in a large cohort of U.S. patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Multiple host and viral factors affect the outcomes of CHC. Further defining the pathogenic roles of these factors in CHC progression will lead to improving management of this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of a large cohort of US patients with CHC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 460 patients, 331 were males and 129 were females with mean age of 48.4+/-8.0 years, and 191 (41.7%) had stage 3 and 4 fibrosis. Clinically, a multivariate analysis revealed that age of > or =60 years at presentation, the estimated duration of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection > or =25 years, a body mass index > or =30 kg/m, and a history of diabetes mellitus were independently associated with stage 3 and 4 fibrosis, after adjusting for history of alcohol use. Laboratorially, a multivariate analysis revealed that aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > or =2 x upper limit of normal (ULN), alpha fetoprotein > or =15 microg/L, and presence of grade 2 and 3 steatosis were independently associated with stage 3 and 4 fibrosis, after adjusting for alanine aminotransferase > or =2 x upper limit of normal, AST/alanine aminotransferase ratio > or =1, HCV genotyping, transferrin saturation, and a histology activity index score > or =7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicated that elderly, longer duration of HCV infection, obesity, and history of diabetes mellitus are independent clinical parameters associated with advanced fibrosis, whereas elevated AST, alpha fetoprotein, and presence of grade 2 and 3 steatosis are independent laboratorial parameters associated with stage 3 and 4 fibrosis in patients with CHC.
authors.affiliation: Earl Warren College, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Shirley X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Namgyal L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kyulo
authors.forename: Victor W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hillebrand
authors.forename: Ke-Qin
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States