Association of the prevalence and grade of steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C with the host and viral factors

Aim : The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatosteatosis in chronic hepatitis C patients, evaluate the poten- tial impact of some host- and virus-related factors on its occur- rence and possible influence of steatosis on the consequences of hepatitis. Patients and methods : The case records of 387 patients with hepatitis C and cirrhosis were studied. The prevalence and grade of steatosis were investigated and evaluated by logistic regression analysis as dependent variable to age, gender, alcohol consump- tion, body mass index, hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes, liver enzymes activity, histological activity index and fibrosis. Results : Steatosis was found in 47.3% of the patients. It was more prevalent in males, alcohol abusers, overweight and obese patients, and in those with HCV genotypes 3 and 2. Multivariate analysis confirmed body mass index as an independent risk factor for steatosis in the overall patient cohort and in those with geno- type1 without any correlation with the steatosis grade. The preva- lence and grade of steatosis were associated with alcohol con- sumption and higher fibrosis stage. The age of the patients showed converse association. Conclusions : The male gender, body mass index, alcohol con- sumption, genotype 2 and 3 were confirmed as risk factors for hepatosteatosis. Older patients had a lesser steatosis grade. The correlation of histological activity index and fibrosis scores with the prevalence and higher grade of steatosis suggested a possibility to worsen the course of hepatitis C and to accelerate disease progression. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2007, 70, 260-266