Published online Dec 14, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i46.12989
Peer-review started: July 18, 2015
First decision: August 31, 2015
Revised: September 7, 2015
Accepted: October 17, 2015
Article in press: October 20, 2015
Published online: December 14, 2015
Processing time: 146 Days and 4 Hours
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is globally increasing and has become a world-wide health problem. Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with hepatic steatosis. Viral hepatitis-associated hepatic steatosis is often caused by metabolic syndrome including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or dyslipidemia. It has been reported that HCV genotype 3 exerts direct metabolic effects that lead to hepatic steatosis. In this review, the differences between NAFLD/NASH and viral hepatitis-associated steatosis are discussed.
Core tip: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common liver disease in United States, European and Asian countries. NAFLD and NASH are associated with metabolic syndrome including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or dyslipidemia. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are associated with hepatic steatosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and cardiovascular related diseases. In comparison with HCV, the association between hepatitis B virus and steatosis remains unclear. Further studies about the mechanism of hepatic steatosis in viral hepatitis are needed.