Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with chronic viral hepatitis

Abstract

Aim. To estimate the prevalence of non-acloholic fatty liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B, and the association of non-acloholic fatty liver disease with the biochemical, virological and metabolic faсtors. Methods. 53 patients with chronic hepatitis B observed in the regional hospital of infective diseases, Stavropol, at 2008-2012, were included. Patients were distributed to 2 groups according to the results of liver biopsies: group I - patients with hepatosteatosis (5%) and group II - no signs of steatosis (≤5%). Anthropometric, histological, biochemical, virological, and metabolic determinants were compared. Results. Of 53 patients, 18 (34%) liver biopsies had signs of steatosis. Patients with steatosis (group I), compared with group II, were older (43±13 vs 34.5±10.9 years, р=0.015), had higher body mass index (30±5.3 vs 22.9±4.3 kg/m 2, р=0.015), higher level of triglycerides (1.6±0.8 vs 1.06±0.7 mmol/l, р=0.014), higher level of cholesterol (5.6±0.7 vs 4.97±0.9 mmol/l, р=0.012), and higher serum insulin (13±7.9 vs 8.2±3 mkME/l, р=0.002) and leptin levels (16.2±15.6 vs 6.5±5.2 ng/ml, р=0.001). The values of HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment) and QUICKI (quantitative insulin sensitivity check index) indices corresponded to insulin resistance (НОМА 2.9±1.8 and 1.9±0.8, р=0.007; QUICKI 0.33±0.02 and 0.35±0.03, р=0.014). There were no differences in histological activity scores by Knodell and fibrosis scores by METAVIR scale between the groups. No reliable differences in virological parameters (viral load and HBeAg status) were obtained. Conclusion. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is observed in one-third of patients with hepatitis B and is associated with host metabolic factors, which correspond to the parameters of metabolic syndrome.