Zahid Latif, Hamamatul Bushra Khaar, Muhammad Umar, Shoaib Shafi, Haider Baqai, Syed Irfan Ahmed, Muhammad Hanif.
Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C: A study of 76 Cases.
J Rawal Med Coll Jan ;7(1):18-20.

Background: To determine the frequency and severity of steatosis in patients of chronic hepatitis C and to evaluate the relationship between the grade of steatosis and stage of fibrosis. Method: Seventy-six adult patients of both sexes were studied. All had increased serum ALT levels for at least 6 months. Their sera were positive for anti-HCV and HCV RNA. Liver biopsy showed features of chronic hepatitis. Histopathological assessment for necro-inflammation, fibrosis and steatosis was performed according to internationally accepted criteria. Results: Fifty patients (65.7%) had steatosis. This was Grade 1 (<33% of hepatocytes involved) in 24 (31.5%), Grade 2 (33-66% hepatocytes involved) in 23 (30.2%) and Grade 3 (>66% hepatocytes involved) in 3 (3.9%) patients. Hepatic steatosis in HCV patients was also significantly associated with fibrosis. Thirty-four patients (68%) of chronic HCV with steatosis showed fibrosis as compared to 13 patients (50%) of chronic HCV without steatosis. Conclusion: Steatosis in quite common in patients of chronic HCV infection and is a contributing factor in the development of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.

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