title: Steatosis in chronic hepatitis B: prevalence and correlation with biochemical, histologic, viral, and metabolic parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatic steatosis (HS) is highly prevalent in chronic hepatitis C and is an important variable predicting progression of histological injury, insulin resistance, and reduced response to antiviral therapy. There are limited data on HS in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This is relevant since response to current antiviral therapies for CHB is rather limited. We investigated the spectrum and predictors of HS in CHB patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver biopsies of consecutive patients of chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection were studied and were categorized as: Group I - hepatosteatosis (>5%) and Group II - no steatosis (£5%). Anthropometric, histological, biochemical, virological, and metabolic determinants were compared. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify variables that were independently associated with the presence of steatosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 350 patients, 118 (33.7%) liver biopsies showed steatosis (Group I); 65 (55.1%) had mild (6 to <25%) and 53 (44.9%) had moderate to severe steatosis ((3)25%). Patients in group I, compared with group II, were older (35.5 ± 10.5 vs 27.9 ± 14.0 years, P < 0.01), predominantly male (M: F, 10.8: 1 vs 4.8: 1, P = 0.035), obese (75.0% vs 23.4%, P P < 0.01), with higher triglycerides (138.8 ± 62.1 vs 88.0 ± 27.9, P = 0.02), with higher cholesterol (171.9 ± 43.5 vs 139.3 ± 37.6, P = 0.017), and with higher serum insulin (13.1 ± 9.1 vs 9.1 ± 6.0, P < .027) levels. HBV DNA level was significantly lower in group I than group II; however, HBV genotype did not influence HS. By multivariate regression analysis, only high serum triglyceride level was independent parameter associated with HS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Steatosis is seen in one-third cases with HBV-related chronic liver disease and is associated with host metabolic factors, especially serum triglyceride levels, whereas HBV DNA level negatively correlated with HS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rastogi
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sakhuja
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hissar
authors.forename: Akshat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Ranjana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gondal
authors.forename: Shiv Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sarin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014280:Triglycerides