CLINICO-BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL PROFILING OF INDIAN PATIENTS HAVING NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents a clinicopathological condition characterized by histological alterations akin to those induced by excessive alcohol consumption, despite the absence of alcohol abuse. This investigation aims to assess the clinical, biochemical, and histological characteristics of NASH within a tertiary healthcare facility situated in India. Materials and Methods: This study adopted an observational, prospective, single-center approach involving patients of varied ages and genders, presenting with heightened liver echogenicity upon routine ultrasound examination. Clinical, biochemical, and histological profiles of the patients were studied. Results: A cohort of 89 patients participated in the study, comprising 53 males and 36 females. Predominantly, individuals aged between 41 and 50 years constituted the majority. The most prevalent symptom reported was fatigue and malaise, succeeded by right upper abdominal discomfort, jaundice, ascites, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Notably, 30 patients remained asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis, with abnormalities detected via sonographic examination and liver function tests conducted during investigations for alternative etiologies. Hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and overweight conditions emerged as the leading associated risk factors. Biopsies were performed on 10 patients, majority revealing fatty changes. Conclusion: This investigation underscores the heightened prevalence of features indicative of the metabolic syndrome among individuals diagnosed with NASH. These findings suggest a significant overlap with systemic disorders associated with insulin resistance syndrome, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hepatic steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]