The effect of Ezetimibe on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background: Hepatic steatosis is an excessive lipid accumulation within the haptocyte cytoplasm which is a significant cause for cirrhosis. Hepatic steatosis in Hepatitis B (HBV) patients and its effect to histopathological injury has not been well established. This study aims to determine the association of steatosis with the clinico-demographic factors of chronic Hepatitis B patients.

Methods: Medical records of patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection who had liver biopsy from January 2009 up to December 2014 at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City were reviewed. Multiple logistic regression was used in assessing the association of steatosis with the clinico-demographic factors of chronic Hepatitis B patients. Model building was done using Backward selection Method using the Wald’s test and Likelihood Ratio test

Results: Among the fifty eight patients with chronic Hepatitis B with liver biopsy included in this study, 26 had hepatic steatosis. Controlling for variables among chronic Hepatitis B patients, the odds of having steatosis is 14 times more likely among males than females and increases by 1.12% for every increase in age. Moreover, steatosis is 8.7 times more likely among those with elevated LDL levels. High HBV DNA level (OR 1.13; 95% CI 0.38-3.38) and Hbe Ag status (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.09-1.65) were not associated with steatosis.

Conclusion: Controlling for the effects of other risk factors - age, male gender, and elevated LDL levels were  significantly associated with steatosis among chronic Hepatitis B patients. Steatosis is not associated with significant increase in transaminases but may be a risk factor in the development of fibrosis in chronic Hepatitis B patients.