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. 2005 Sep;20(9):1448-55.
doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.03891.x.

Elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations as a predictor of steatohepatitis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Mustafa Gulsen  1 , Zeki Yesilova, Sait Bagci, Ahmet Uygun, Ayhan Ozcan, C Nuri Ercin, Ahmet Erdil, S Yavuz Sanisoglu, Erdinç Cakir, Yuksel Ates, M Kemal Erbil, Necmettin Karaeren, Kemal Dagalp
Affiliations

Elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations as a predictor of steatohepatitis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Mustafa Gulsen et al. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Although steatosis is common in patients with severe hyperhomocysteinemia due to deficiency of cystathionine beta-synthase, there are no satisfactory data on homocysteine concentrations in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of plasma homocysteine concentrations in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Methods: Seventy-one non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients, 36 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 30 healthy persons were enrolled in the study. Homocysteine levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Insulin, folate, vitamin B(12) and lipoprotein levels were also determined in all groups.

Results: Homocysteine in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease group was found to be significantly higher than other groups. Homocysteine was found to be significantly higher in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis group when compared with simple steatosis group. A positive correlation was found between homocysteine and triglyceride, very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, insulin, and index of insulin resistance in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease group, and a negative correlation was found between homocysteine and folate, or vitamin B(12) in all groups. The homocysteine threshold for the prediction of steatohepatitis was 11.935 ng/mL. Furthermore; plasma homocysteine was a statistically significant predictor for severity of necroinflammatory activity in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Conclusions: The plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, while the concentrations were not affected by chronic viral hepatitis. Plasma homocysteine is a parameter for discriminating steatohepatitis from simple steatosis. Determining the plasma homocysteine concentrations may facilitate selection of steatosis patients in whom a liver biopsy should be performed.

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