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Liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C: a morphological sign suggesting infection with HCV genotype 3
Author(s) -
RubbiaBrandt L,
Leandro G,
Spahr L,
Giostra E,
Quadri R,
Malé P J,
Negro F
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.2001.01208.x
Subject(s) - steatosis , medicine , gastroenterology , odds ratio , hepatitis c , fatty liver , cirrhosis , hepatitis c virus , body mass index , liver disease , genotype , immunology , disease , virus , biology , biochemistry , gene
Liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C: a morphological sign suggesting infection with HCV genotype 3Aims : To identify factors associated with liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C. Methods and results : Occurrence and severity of liver steatosis in 254 chronic hepatitis C patients were compared with presence of alcohol abuse, body mass index (BMI) >26, history of intravenous drug addiction and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype. Steatosis was found in 109 (43%) patients. The occurrence of steatosis was significantly associated with ongoing alcohol abuse ( P =0.03) or HCV genotype 3 ( P = 0.003), but not with BMI >26. A moderate to severe steatosis was present in 60% of patients infected with HCV genotype 3, irrespective of the presence of alcohol abuse, BMI >26 or history of intravenous drug addiction. Using a multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis, infection with genotype 3 had an odds ratio (OR) of 10 (95% confidence interval (CI)=4.56–22) for a liver steatosis, whereas the presence of a cirrhosis at histology had an OR=0.256 (95% CI=0.07–0.92). Conclusions : A moderate to severe degree of steatosis of the liver is a morphological sign suggestive of infection with HCV genotype 3, independent of other risk factors of a fatty liver, but it may disappear at late stages of the disease.