title: Effects of metabolic syndrome on fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome, comprising diabetes, hypertension, central obesity, and dyslipidemia, is increasingly prevalent worldwide. We aimed to study the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the risk of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 954 patients (CHB, 850; CHC, 104 patients) with liver biopsy were included in the retrospective analysis. Extensive clinical and histological data were available. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the International Diabetes Federation definition of metabolic syndrome, 2006 criteria. Histological lesions were evaluated according to the histology activity index system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic syndrome was present in 6% of patients and significantly more prevalent in patients with CHC than in patients with CHB (5% vs 13%, p<0.001). Patients with metabolic syndrome were older among patients with CHB and patients with CHC, and, as expected, were mainly overweight or obese. Fibrosis was significantly more severe in patients with metabolic syndrome than in those without, regardless of whether they had CHB and CHC (CHB, 3.3±2.1 vs 2.4±1.3, p=0.025; CHC, 2.6±1.5 vs 1.3±0.7, p=0.006). Liver fibrosis (stages 3 to 4) was independently associated with increased age, higher transaminase level and metabolic syndrome (odds ratio, 2.421; p=0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolic syndrome is associated independently with severe fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jeong Guil
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Myung Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyu Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rim
keywords: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Liver cirrhosis; Metabolic syndrome
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