STEATOSIS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

Steatosis has been cited as a characteristic feature of chronic HCV infection; however its pathogenesis and its role in disease progression have not been established yet. Study of hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic HCV infection is confused by the probably coexistence of two distinct entities; some patients may have steatosis independently HCV infection, secondary to common causes such as obesity and DM, while others may have steatosis as a direct consequence of HCV infection. Both host factors and viral factor alone or in combination, may play a role in the development of steatosis in chronic HCV infection. It has been suggested that the steatosis was more highly associated with genotype 3a than other HCV genotypes.