THE INFLUENCE AND PREVALENCE OF NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS B

The prevalence and the impact of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are not well known. NAFLD as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus and dislipidemia. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and the impact of NAFLD on CHB. Methods: 120 patients diagnosed serologically and histological with CHB in 2006 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with self declared excessive alcohol consumption (above 20g/day for males and 10g/day for females) have been excluded. NAFLD was evaluated according to Brunt ' s score, while histology activity index (HAI) and fibrosis stage for CHB were estimated using Knodell score. The patients were divided in 2 groups: patients with CHB without steatosis (n= 61) and with steatosis (n= 59). Results: Out of 120 patients with CHB (male/female= 76/44, median age= 40.41), 49.15% had steatosis. No statistically significant differences among fibrosis stages, HAI and the aminotransferase levels was found between the two groups (p= 0.320, p= 0.228, and p= 0.128). The presence of NAFLD associated with CHB was significantly correlated with age (p= 0.001) and MS (p= 0.051). In patients with CHB and steatosis, significant correlations between female sex and the presence of MS (p= 0.007) as between HAI and age (p= 0.003) were found. Conclusions: NAFLD was detected at 49.16% of patients with CHB. A positive correlation with age and MS (obesity, diabetes mellitus and/or dislipidemia) was observed. No significant correlations between NAFLD and the aminotransferase levels or histological features have been found.