Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Aug 27, 2011; 3(8): 219-227
Published online Aug 27, 2011. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v3.i8.219
Noninvasive predictors for liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Hüseyin Saadettin Uslusoy, Selim Giray Nak, Macit Gülten
Hüseyin Saadettin Uslusoy, Selim Giray Nak, Macit Gülten, Department of Gastrenterology, İzmit Seka State Hospital, Kocaeli 41000, Turkey
Author contributions: Uslusoy HS performed the research; Nak SG wrote and translated the manuscript; Gülten M designed the research and did the revision.
Supported by The Uludag University Scientific Project Grant
Correspondence to: Hüseyin Saadettin Uslusoy, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, İzmit Seka State Hospital, Kocaeli 41000, Turkey. huslusoy.25@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-262-3223469 Fax: +90-262-3248136
Received: March 9, 2011
Revised: June 6, 2011
Accepted: July 18, 2011
Published online: August 27, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate certain anthropometric, clinical and laboratory features indicating liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and to establish the noninvasive markers for liver fibrosis.

METHODS: Eighty-one patients (40 male, 41 female) who were diagnosed with fatty liver by ultrasonographic examination and fulfilled the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Anamnesis, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory features of all cases were recorded and then liver biopsy was performed after obtaining patient consent. Steatosis, necroinflammation and liver fibrosis were examined according to age ≥ 45, gender, body mass index, central obesity, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 1, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT)/ALT > 1, platelet count, insulin, c-peptide levels and the presence of hypertension, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance.

RESULTS: Eighty-one patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) enrolled in the study. 69 of 81 patients were diagnosed with NASH, 11 were diagnosed with simple fatty liver and 1 was diagnosed with cirrhosis. AST/ALT > 1, GGT/ALT > 11, high serum ferritin and fasting insulin levels, the presence of diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance seemed to enhance the severity of steatosis, necroinflammation and fibrosis but these results were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Liver steatosis and fibrosis can occur in individuals with normal weight. There was no significant concordance between severity of liver histology and the presence of predictors for liver fibrosis including metabolic risk factors.

Keywords: Liver fibrosis; Predictors; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Steatohepatitis