Brief Article
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World J Hepatol. May 27, 2013; 5(5): 281-287
Published online May 27, 2013. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v5.i5.281
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients of Bangladesh
Shahinul Alam, Sheikh Mohammad Noor-E-Alam, Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury, Mahabubul Alam, Jahangir Kabir
Shahinul Alam, Sheikh Mohammad Noor-E-Alam, Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury, Mahabubul Alam, Jahangir Kabir, Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Author contributions: Alam S contributed to the conception and design of the research; Noor-E-Alam SM contributed to the design of the research and to the data collection; Chowdhury ZR contributed to the data analysis and interpretation; Alam M contributed toward drafting the manuscript; and Kabir J critically revised the paper.
Correspondence to: Shahinul Alam, Associate Professor, Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, BSMMU, Shahbag, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. shahinul67@yahoo.com
Telephone: +88-2-8610779 Fax: +88-2-8122917
Received: February 17, 2013
Revised: April 30, 2013
Accepted: May 8, 2013
Published online: May 27, 2013
Processing time: 99 Days and 0.7 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To explore the prevalence and risk factors for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

METHODS: We have included 493 patients with sonographic evidence of a fatty change, and 177 of these individuals were evaluated and confirmed after liver biopsy. The exclusion criteria consisted of significant alcohol abuse (< 20 g daily), evidence of hepatitis B and C, evidence of drug-induced fatty liver disease and other specific liver diseases such as hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease or autoimmune liver disease. The patients were assessed for metabolic syndrome, and biochemical, anthropometric and histopathological evaluations were carried out. The degree of disease activity in the NAFLD patients was evaluated using the NAFLD Activity Score. The data were analyzed by SPSS, version 16.0.

RESULTS: Females predominated among the study participants (250, 57.0%), and the mean age was 40.8 ± 10.2 years. The numbers of overweight, obese I and obese II patients were 58 (13.2%), 237 (53.9%) and 93 (21.2%), respectively. However, there were 422 (96.2%) centrally obese patients. NASH was absent in 10 (5.6%) cases, borderline in 92 (52.6%) cases and present in 75 (42.4%) cases. The presence of diabetes could significantly (P = 0.001) differentiate NASH from simple steatosis. The following parameters did not influence the development of NASH: age, sex, basal metabolic index, waist circumference, serum high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, insulin resistance index, hypertension and metabolic syndrome. The serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) level was significantly higher (P = 0.05, 51.7 ± 32.8 and 40.4 ± 22.6 U/L) in the NASH patients, with a sensitivity of 45% and a specificity of only 68%. The serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were not able to predict NASH.

CONCLUSION: Females were the predominant sufferers of NAFLD in Bangladesh. The prevalence of NASH was high. Diabetes was found to be the main culprit in developing NASH. GGT was the only biochemical marker of NASH. We recommend liver biopsy in NAFLD patients who have diabetes and elevated GGT.

Keywords: Fatty liver; Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Alanine aminotransferase; Obesity; Basal metabolic index

Core tip: We have designed this study to explore the prevalence of and risk factors for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Other causes of liver disease were excluded. A total of 493 patients with sonographic evidence of fatty change were considered, and 177 of these patients were evaluated and confirmed by liver biopsy after making exclusions. Females were predominant (250, 57.0%). Central obesity was more prevalent among the patients compared with overall obesity. NASH was observed in 75 (42.4%) of the cases. The presence of diabetes and elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase could differentiate NASH from simple steatosis. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase could not be used to detect NASH.