Hepatic steatosis is uncommon in children with chronic hepatitis B
Received 9 July 2009; received in revised form 15 September 2009; accepted 15 September 2009. published online 15 October 2009.
Abstract
Background
Differently from chronic hepatitis C, factors associated with hepatic steatosis in children with chronic hepatitis B are not clearly elucidated.
Objective
Aim of this study was to investigate prevalence of steatosis at liver biopsy in HBV-infected children.
Study design
A retrospective study including 56 children with chronic hepatitis B undergoing liver biopsy at median age of 8.1 years. In all patients demographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory data were evaluated at the time of liver biopsy.
Results
Steatosis was present in 2 (4%) children. BMI was significantly higher in 2 patients with steatosis compared with those without steatosis. Demographic, biochemical and virological parameters did not differ between children with and those without steatosis.
Conclusions
Liver steatosis in HBV-infected children seems to be related to obesity and metabolic factors rather than to viral factors. Detection of steatosis in non-obese children with HBV infection requires a careful investigation to rule out other causes of fatty liver.
aDepartment of Pediatrics, University “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
bDepartment of Biomorphological Science, University “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
Corresponding author at: Department of Pediatrics, University “Federico II”, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Tel.: +39 0817464337; fax: +39 0817464337.
ABSTRACT