Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C in Taiwan

Meng-Hsuan Hsieh; Li-Po Lee; Ming-Yen Hsieh; Kun-Bow Tsai; Jee-Fu Huang; Nai-Jen Hou; Shinn-Chern Chen; Zu-Yau Lin; Ming-Yuh Hsieh; Liang-Yen Wang; Chia-Yen Dai; Wan-Long Chuang; Ming-Lung Yu

doi:10.7883/yoken.JJID.2007.377

Original Article

Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C in Taiwan

Meng-Hsuan Hsieh, Li-Po Lee, Ming-Yen Hsieh, Kun-Bow Tsai, Jee-Fu Huang, Nai-Jen Hou, Shinn-Chern Chen, Zu-Yau Lin, Ming-Yuh Hsieh, Liang-Yen Wang, Chia-Yen Dai, Wan-Long Chuang, Ming-Lung Yu

Author information

Meng-Hsuan Hsieh
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal HsiaoKang Hospital, Taiwan
Li-Po Lee
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Ming-Yen Hsieh
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Kun-Bow Tsai
Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Municipal HsiaoKang Hospital, Taiwan
Jee-Fu Huang
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal HsiaoKang Hospital, Taiwan
Nai-Jen Hou
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal HsiaoKang Hospital, Taiwan
Shinn-Chern Chen
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Zu-Yau Lin
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Ming-Yuh Hsieh
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Liang-Yen Wang
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Chia-Yen Dai
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal HsiaoKang Hospital, Taiwan
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Wan-Long Chuang
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Ming-Lung Yu
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2007 Volume 60 Issue 6 Pages 377-381

DOI https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.JJID.2007.377

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Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with hepatic steatosis. However, the role of hepatic steatosis in the pathogenesis of HCV infection remains controversial. In our study, 425 consecutive HCV-viremic patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C (male, 264; mean age, 49.0 years) were enrolled. Scoring of hepatic steatosis was based on the method described by Kleiner and on histopathology performed using the Knodell and Scheuer systems. HCV RNA level and genotypes were determined at the time of biopsy. Hepatic steatosis was observed in 30.8% of patients, including 113 mild, 16 moderate, and 3 with severe hepatic steatosis. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) <23 kg/m² had a significantly lower rate (18.9%) of hepatic steatosis (P < 0.001). Hepatic steatosis did not correlate with the hepatic necroinflammatory activity, but was related to hepatic fibrosis (P = 0.035). Hepatic steatosis was also not associated with HCV RNA level, and the distribution was similar between patients with HCV genotype 1 and genotype 2 infection. According to multivariate analysis, BMI is the strongest risk factor associated with hepatic steatosis, followed by hepatic fibrosis and triglyceride level with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 2.51 (1.49 - 4.23), 2.06 (1.14 - 3.70), and 1.02 (1.01 - 1.03), respectively. Hepatic steatosis was associated with being overweight, hepatic fibrosis, and triglyceride level in chronic hepatitis C.

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