Hepatic steatosis associated with hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

Hepatic steatosis (including microvesicular and macrovesicular fat) is a significant histologic feature associated to the chronic hepatitis C (HCV). The purpose of this paper was to analyze the incidence of hepatocyte steatosis in patients with HCV and the potential role of some the known variables as risk factors possibly involved in the occurrence of steatosis: age, sex, obesity, biological parameters, diabetes mellitus, degree of necroinflammation (NI) and stage of fibrosis. 96 of 125 (76.8%) patients had hepatic steatosis (mild 76%, moderate and severe 24%); in comparison with patients without steatosis, those with HCV and steatosis were more frequently women (males/females: 1/1.9) of older age (49.97 vs. 47.7 years), with a greater ICM (index of corporal mass) (26.55 sqm vs. 23.52 sqm), with raised glycemic values (13 of the 14 patients with HCV and diabetes mellitus had steatosis), an average value of serum ALT significantly raised (95.38 U/l vs. 78.96 U/l), and an average score of NI activity significantly higher (9.39 vs. 6.75).