HOST-SPECIFIC AND DISEASE-SPECIFIC FACTORS AFFECTING STEATOSIS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Background/Aim: Steatosis is commonly present in chronic hepatitis C. Our aim was to evaluate host- and disease-specific factors associated with its occurrence, Methods: Histologic findings in 60 patients were correlated with body mass index, human leukocyte antigens, and other c onventional parameters. Comparisons were made with 41 patients who had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and 18 patients who had chronic hepatiti s B. Results: Patients with chronic hepatitis C and steatosis had lowe r serum concentrations of gamma-globulin (p=0.01) and immunoglobulin G (p=0.05) than their counterparts without steatosis, and they had a lo wer frequency of antinuclear antibodies (19% versus 52%, p=0.01). They also had a higher mean body mass index (p=0.002) and a greater freque ncy of risk factors for steatosis (70% versus 34%, p=0.009), These ris k factors, however, occurred more commonly in patients with nonalcohol ic steatosis (p=0.007). Furthermore, fat deposition occurred more ofte n in chronic hepatitis C than in chronic hepatitis B (52% versus 22%, p=0.03), despite comparable metabolic findings. The degree of steatosi s in chronic hepatitis C was not associated with individual metabolic features. Conclusions: Steatosis in chronic hepatitis C is mainly a vi ral effect, and host-dependent metabolic factors may potentiate the ma nifestation, Fat deposition is associated with less immunoreactivity a nd it may connote a distinctive pathogenic mechanism.