title: PNPLA3polymorphism increases risk for and severity of chronic hepatitis C liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association ofPNPLA3polymorphisms in chronic hepatitis C patients and development of liver disease spectrum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature was searched systematically from PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane search engines for full-length articles written in English that examinedPNPLA3polymorphism in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Studies evaluating the association ofPNPLA3polymorphism spectrum (fatty liver, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) of CHC were included. Pooled data are reported as OR with 95%CI. Our study endpoint was the risk of the entire liver disease spectrum including: Steatosis/fatty liver, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in CHC patients withPNPLA3polymorphisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 380 studies identified, a total of 53 studies were included for full-text review. Nineteen on chronic hepatitis C were eligible for analysis. Pooled ORs for rs738409 GG compared to CC and CG among patients with fatty liver was 2.214 (95%CI: 1.719-2.853). ORs among advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis were 1.762 (95%CI: 1.258-2.468). Similar odds ratios among hepatocellular carcinoma patients were 2.002 (95%CI: 1.519-2.639). Pooled ORs for rs738409 GG and CG compared to CC among patients with fatty liver were 1.750 (95%CI: 1.542-1.986). Pooled ORs for advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis patients were 1.613 (95%CI: 1.211-2.147). All analyses were homogenous and without publication bias except one. The associations were maintained after adjusting for publication bias and heterogeneity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PNPLA3polymorphisms have strong association with increased risk and severity of the liver disease spectrum in CHC patients.
authors.affiliation: Habeeb Salameh, Muhannad Al Hanayneh, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Habeeb
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.affiliation: Habeeb Salameh, Muhannad Al Hanayneh, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Maen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masadeh
authors.affiliation: Habeeb Salameh, Muhannad Al Hanayneh, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Muhannad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Hanayneh
authors.affiliation: Habeeb Salameh, Muhannad Al Hanayneh, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petros
authors.affiliation: Habeeb Salameh, Muhannad Al Hanayneh, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maslonka
authors.affiliation: Habeeb Salameh, Muhannad Al Hanayneh, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.affiliation: Habeeb Salameh, Muhannad Al Hanayneh, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Ashwani K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singal
keywords: Cirrhosis; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; PNPLA3 polymorphism; rs738409