Liver
steatosis (fat accumulation in liver cells) is common among patients with
chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, especially those with genotype
3 virus. Past research indicates that steatosis is associated with accelerated
liver fibrosis progression and
poorer response to antiviral therapy.
As
described in the January 2007 Journal of Viral Hepatitis, an international
team of researchers monitored steatosis in liver biopsy samples from 231 patients
with chronic HCV infection who were treated with pegylated
interferon-alpha plus ribavirin in the Phase III DITTO trial. The degree of
steatosis, along with relevant metabolic parameters, was correlated with early
HCV clearance and final outcomes of treatment.
The
researchers wrote that, "Our data suggest that the presence of steatosis
impairs the early reduction of viral load during treatment in patients infected
with HCV genotype 3 and non-3."
They
added that, "Steatosis negatively affected the final outcome of treatment
mainly in patients infected with HCV genotype non-3 virus."
Based
on these findings, the investigators proposed that, "interventions aiming
at reducing hepatic steatosis prior to the onset of antiviral therapy may be of
benefit to patients infected with HCV of the non-3 genotypes. Patients infected
with genotype 3, on the other hand, should be offered early antiviral treatment."
Sahlgrenska
University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden; Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; Hôpital
Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, France; Saarland University
Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany; University Hospital Rotterdam Dijkzigt, Rotterdam,
the Netherlands; University of Geneva, Switzerland; Azienda Ospedaliera di Parma,
Italy; Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
1/23/07
Reference J
Westin, M Lagging, A P Dhillon, and others. Impact of hepatic steatosis on viral
kinetics and treatment outcome during antiviral treatment of chronic HCV infection.
Journal of Viral Hepatitis 14(1): 29-35. January 2007.
