1. Liver steatosis is a strong predictor of mortality and cancer in chronic hepatitis B regardless of viral load
- Author
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Noam Peleg, Assaf Issachar, Orly Sneh Arbib, Michal Cohen-Naftaly, Marius Braun, Moshe Leshno, Alon Barsheshet, and Amir Shlomai
- Subjects
Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology ,RC799-869 - Abstract
Background & Aims: Liver steatosis may occur concomitantly in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) and is implicated in increased morbidity and mortality. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load is a marker for disease progression and long-term outcomes in CHB. We investigated the association between liver steatosis and HBV viral load and their individual effects on all-cause mortality and the development of cancer in patients with CHB and liver steatosis. Methods: This retrospective study included 524 treatment-naïve patients with CHB, with a mean follow-up of 6 years. Liver biopsy was available for 170 patients and liver steatosis was validated by at least 3 ultrasonographic examinations. Results: A total of 241/524 (46%) patients with CHB had liver steatosis, with a strong correlation between the degree of liver steatosis as assessed by ultrasonography or by liver biopsy (r = 0.9, p
- Published
- 2019
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