Predictors for HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis patients with steatosis and its value in diagnosis of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between clinical presentation and pathological characteristics in HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients with steatosis, and to find out the predictors of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Methods HgeAg negative CHB patients with (n=56) or without (n=60) steatosis confirmed clinically and pathologically were enrolled in the study. All patients were examined for fasting blood glucose(FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyhransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) albumin (Alb), globulin(Glb), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HBV-DNA and body mass index(BMI). The association of above parameters with hepatic inflammation, fibrosis and fatty deposition were analyzed statistically. Results It was demonstrated that BMI, FBG, FINS, TG, TC, GGT, ALP , Glb and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in HBeAg negative CHB patients with steatosis than those without steatosis (P<0.05). Whereas the levels of HBV-DNA, Alb, ALT and AST were significantly lower in HBeAg negative CHB patients with steatosis compared with those without steatosis (P<0.05). The hepatic inflammation and fibrosis were aggravated in patients with steatosis. It was implicated that BMI,FBG, FINS, TG, TC, GGT and HOMA-IR(all P values 0.05) were significant predictors for hepatic steatosis, while ALT, AST, Glb and HBV-DNA(all P values <0.05) were significant predictors for hepatic inflammation. And the predictors for hepatic fibrosis were ALT, AST, Alb, Glb and HBV-DNA(all P values <0.05). Conclusions Hepatic steatosis is common in HBeAg negative CHB patients which is positively associated with parameters including BMI, FBG, FINS, TG, TC, GGT, ALP and HOMA-IR. Besides steatosis, the hepatic inflammation and fibrosis are also aggravated in these patients. Key words: Hepatitis B, chronic; Fatty liver biopsy; Diagnosis