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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2009; 15(9): 1093-1098
Published online Mar 7, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1093
Liver histology according to the presence of metabolic syndrome in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cases
Hüseyin Saadettin Uslusoy, Selim Giray Nak, Macit Gülten, Zeynep Bıyıklı
Hüseyin Saadettin Uslusoy, Selim Giray Nak, Macit Gülten, Uludag University Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology, Bursa 16059, Turkey
Zeynep Bıyıklı, Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Ankara 06100, Turkey
Author contributions: Uslusoy HS performed research; Nak SG wrote and translated the manuscript; Gülten M designed research and performed revisions; Bıyıklı Z performed the analysis and interpretation of data.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hüseyin Saadettin Uslusoy, Uludag University Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology, Bursa 16059, Turkey. huslusoy.23@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-354-2121070
Fax: +90-354-2120923
Received: November 16, 2008
Revised: January 9, 2009
Accepted: January 16, 2009
Published online: March 7, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the histologic features of the liver in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cases according to the presence of metabolic syndrome or its individual components.

METHODS: We enrolled 81 patients (40 male, 41 female) who were diagnosed with fatty liver by ultrasonographic scan and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. First anamnesis, anthropometric, clinical, laboratory and imaging features of all participants were recorded and then liver biopsy was performed after gaining consent from patients. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was dependent on patients having 3 or more out of 5 risk criteria defined by the WHO. Biopsy specimens were assessed according to Brunt et al’s classification.

RESULTS: Sixty-nine of the 81 patients had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), 11 had simple fatty liver and 1 had cirrhosis according to histologic evaluation. Comparisons were made between two groups of NASH patients, those with and without metabolic syndrome. We did not detect statistically significant differences in liver histology between NASH patients with and without metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION: NASH can progress without metabolic risk factors or the presence of metabolic syndrome.

Keywords: Liver histology; Fatty liver; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Metabolic risk factors; Metabolic syndrome