BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that hepatic steatosis contributes to the progression of liver fibrosis, whereas its impact on the efficacy of anti-viral treatment is still under investigation. AIM: To evaluate the effect of steatosis on the outcome of combined anti-viral treatment. METHODS: We studied 102 consecutive naive patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving combined anti-viral therapy (peg-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin). RESULTS: Fifty (49%) of 102 patients had evidence of hepatic steatosis (29 grade 1, 16 grade 2 and 5 grade 3). Sustained virological response was similar in patients with and without steatosis (58% vs. 56%); moreover, the grade of steatosis did not affect the rate of sustained virological response (grade 1: 58%, grade 2: 56% and grade 3: 60%). Patients with steatosis had significantly higher serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and gamma-glutamyltransferase (P = 0.007, 0.004 and 0.03, respectively), higher histological activity (P = 0.03), more advanced stage of fibrosis (P = 0.0394) and more often hepatitis C virus genotype 3 (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C, irrespective of its grade, is not a negative prognostic factor of response to combined anti-viral therapy, even when the histological and biochemical profile of the disease is more aggressive.
Titolo: | Hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C: impact on response to anti-viral treatment with peg-interferon and ribavirin |
Autore/i: | GUIDI, MARCELLO; MURATORI, PAOLO; GRANITO, ALESSANDRO; MURATORI, LUIGI; Pappas G; LENZI, MARCO; BIANCHI, FRANCESCO BIANCO |
Autore/i Unibo: | |
Anno: | 2005 |
Rivista: | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02679.x |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that hepatic steatosis contributes to the progression of liver fibrosis, whereas its impact on the efficacy of anti-viral treatment is still under investigation. AIM: To evaluate the effect of steatosis on the outcome of combined anti-viral treatment. METHODS: We studied 102 consecutive naive patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving combined anti-viral therapy (peg-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin). RESULTS: Fifty (49%) of 102 patients had evidence of hepatic steatosis (29 grade 1, 16 grade 2 and 5 grade 3). Sustained virological response was similar in patients with and without steatosis (58% vs. 56%); moreover, the grade of steatosis did not affect the rate of sustained virological response (grade 1: 58%, grade 2: 56% and grade 3: 60%). Patients with steatosis had significantly higher serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and gamma-glutamyltransferase (P = 0.007, 0.004 and 0.03, respectively), higher histological activity (P = 0.03), more advanced stage of fibrosis (P = 0.0394) and more often hepatitis C virus genotype 3 (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C, irrespective of its grade, is not a negative prognostic factor of response to combined anti-viral therapy, even when the histological and biochemical profile of the disease is more aggressive. |
Data prodotto definitivo in UGOV: | 2006-01-19 14:17:19 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.01 Articolo in rivista |