BACKGROUND/AIM: Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common in Egypt, and their coexistence is expected. There is controversy regarding the influence of NAFLD on chronic HCV disease progression. This study evaluates the effect of NAFLD on the severity of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) (necroinflammation and fibrosis) and assesses the relative contribution of insulin resistance syndrome to the occurrence of NAFLD in patients with chronic HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Untreated consecutive adults with chronic HCV infection admitted for liver biopsy were included in this study. Before liver biopsy, a questionnaire for risk factors was completed prospectively, and a blood sample was obtained for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 92 male patients. Their mean ± SD age and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level were 42 ± 7.7 years (range 20-56) and 68 ± 41.7 U/L (range 16-214), respectively. The mean insulin level and insulin resistance index were 15.6 ± 18.3 mIU/mL (range 5.1-137.4) and 5.9 ± 15.2 (range 0.9-136.2), respectively. Fifty four percent of patients had steatosis and 65% had fibrosis. In multivariate analyses, steatosis was associated with insulin resistance and fibrosis was associated with high AST level, age ≥40 years, and steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Steatosis is a histopathologic feature in >50% of patients with chronic HCV infection. Insulin resistance has an important role in the pathogenesis of steatosis, which represents a significant determinant of fibrosis together with high serum AST level and older age.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common in Egypt, and their coexistence is expected. There is controversy regarding the influence of NAFLD on chronic HCV disease progression. This study evaluates the effect of NAFLD on the severity of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) (necroinflammation and fibrosis) and assesses the relative contribution of insulin resistance syndrome to the occurrence of NAFLD in patients with chronic HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Untreated consecutive adults with chronic HCV infection admitted for liver biopsy were included in this study. Before liver biopsy, a questionnaire for risk factors was completed prospectively, and a blood sample was obtained for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 92 male patients. Their mean ± SD age and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level were 42 ± 7.7 years (range 20-56) and 68 ± 41.7 U/L (range 16-214), respectively. The mean insulin level and insulin resistance index were 15.6 ± 18.3 mIU/mL (range 5.1-137.4) and 5.9 ± 15.2 (range 0.9-136.2), respectively. Fifty four percent of patients had steatosis and 65% had fibrosis. In multivariate analyses, steatosis was associated with insulin resistance and fibrosis was associated with high AST level, age ≥40 years, and steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Steatosis is a histopathologic feature in >50% of patients with chronic HCV infection. Insulin resistance has an important role in the pathogenesis of steatosis, which represents a significant determinant of fibrosis together with high serum AST level and older age.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common in Egypt, and their coexistence is expected. There is controversy regarding the influence of NAFLD on chronic HCV disease progression. This study evaluates the effect of NAFLD on the severity of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) (necroinflammation and fibrosis) and assesses the relative contribution of insulin resistance syndrome to the occurrence of NAFLD in patients with chronic HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Untreated consecutive adults with chronic HCV infection admitted for liver biopsy were included in this study. Before liver biopsy, a questionnaire for risk factors was completed prospectively, and a blood sample was obtained for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 92 male patients. Their mean ± SD age and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level were 42 ± 7.7 years (range 20-56) and 68 ± 41.7 U/L (range 16-214), respectively. The mean insulin level and insulin resistance index were 15.6 ± 18.3 mIU/mL (range 5.1-137.4) and 5.9 ± 15.2 (range 0.9-136.2), respectively. Fifty four percent of patients had steatosis and 65% had fibrosis. In multivariate analyses, steatosis was associated with insulin resistance and fibrosis was associated with high AST level, age ≥40 years, and steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Steatosis is a histopathologic feature in >50% of patients with chronic HCV infection. Insulin resistance has an important role in the pathogenesis of steatosis, which represents a significant determinant of fibrosis together with high serum AST level and older age.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common in Egypt, and their coexistence is expected. There is controversy regarding the influence of NAFLD on chronic HCV disease progression. This study evaluates the effect of NAFLD on the severity of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) (necroinflammation and fibrosis) and assesses the relative contribution of insulin resistance syndrome to the occurrence of NAFLD in patients with chronic HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Untreated consecutive adults with chronic HCV infection admitted for liver biopsy were included in this study. Before liver biopsy, a questionnaire for risk factors was completed prospectively, and a blood sample was obtained for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 92 male patients. Their mean ± SD age and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level were 42 ± 7.7 years (range 20-56) and 68 ± 41.7 U/L (range 16-214), respectively. The mean insulin level and insulin resistance index were 15.6 ± 18.3 mIU/mL (range 5.1-137.4) and 5.9 ± 15.2 (range 0.9-136.2), respectively. Fifty four percent of patients had steatosis and 65% had fibrosis. In multivariate analyses, steatosis was associated with insulin resistance and fibrosis was associated with high AST level, age ≥40 years, and steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Steatosis is a histopathologic feature in >50% of patients with chronic HCV infection. Insulin resistance has an important role in the pathogenesis of steatosis, which represents a significant determinant of fibrosis together with high serum AST level and older age.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common in Egypt, and their coexistence is expected. There is controversy regarding the influence of NAFLD on chronic HCV disease progression. This study evaluates the effect of NAFLD on the severity of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) (necroinflammation and fibrosis) and assesses the relative contribution of insulin resistance syndrome to the occurrence of NAFLD in patients with chronic HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Untreated consecutive adults with chronic HCV infection admitted for liver biopsy were included in this study. Before liver biopsy, a questionnaire for risk factors was completed prospectively, and a blood sample was obtained for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 92 male patients. Their mean ± SD age and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level were 42 ± 7.7 years (range 20-56) and 68 ± 41.7 U/L (range 16-214), respectively. The mean insulin level and insulin resistance index were 15.6 ± 18.3 mIU/mL (range 5.1-137.4) and 5.9 ± 15.2 (range 0.9-136.2), respectively. Fifty four percent of patients had steatosis and 65% had fibrosis. In multivariate analyses, steatosis was associated with insulin resistance and fibrosis was associated with high AST level, age ≥40 years, and steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Steatosis is a histopathologic feature in >50% of patients with chronic HCV infection. Insulin resistance has an important role in the pathogenesis of steatosis, which represents a significant determinant of fibrosis together with high serum AST level and older age.

Background and Aims: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is very common in Egypt. There is no available data about frequency of chronic HCV infection in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or effect of this infection on UC. We carried out this study to answer such questions. Methods: We prospectively analyzed 44 patients with UC from Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital. For all participants, the following was conducted: clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (US) examination, and laboratory investigations. Differences in UC disease severity and distribution between patients with chronic HCV infection and those without were identified using univariate analysis. Results: Frequency of chronic HCV infection was 25% among study patients. Univariate analysis showed a significantly lower (p 0.05) severe UC activity index and higher moderate index in UC patients with chronic HCV infection than in those without. Conclusions: We found that frequency of chronic HCV infection among Egyptian patients with UC is similar to that among general population. Chronic HCV infection was associated with less severe activity index of UC suggesting an inhibitory role of HCV on UC activity.

Background and Aims: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is very common in Egypt. There is no available data about frequency of chronic HCV infection in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or effect of this infection on UC. We carried out this study to answer such questions. Methods: We prospectively analyzed 44 patients with UC from Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital. For all participants, the following was conducted: clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (US) examination, and laboratory investigations. Differences in UC disease severity and distribution between patients with chronic HCV infection and those without were identified using univariate analysis. Results: Frequency of chronic HCV infection was 25% among study patients. Univariate analysis showed a significantly lower (p 0.05) severe UC activity index and higher moderate index in UC patients with chronic HCV infection than in those without. Conclusions: We found that frequency of chronic HCV infection among Egyptian patients with UC is similar to that among general population. Chronic HCV infection was associated with less severe activity index of UC suggesting an inhibitory role of HCV on UC activity.

Background and Aims: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is very common in Egypt. There is no available data about frequency of chronic HCV infection in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or effect of this infection on UC. We carried out this study to answer such questions. Methods: We prospectively analyzed 44 patients with UC from Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital. For all participants, the following was conducted: clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (US) examination, and laboratory investigations. Differences in UC disease severity and distribution between patients with chronic HCV infection and those without were identified using univariate analysis. Results: Frequency of chronic HCV infection was 25% among study patients. Univariate analysis showed a significantly lower (p 0.05) severe UC activity index and higher moderate index in UC patients with chronic HCV infection than in those without. Conclusions: We found that frequency of chronic HCV infection among Egyptian patients with UC is similar to that among general population. Chronic HCV infection was associated with less severe activity index of UC suggesting an inhibitory role of HCV on UC activity.

Association of ulcerative colitis (UC) with hepatobiliary disorders is well recognised. The most common hepatobiliary complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are fatty liver infiltration and cholelithiasis. The prevalence of liver dysfunction in IBD remains unclear. The aim of the study is to try to identify the frequency and risk factors of hepatobiliary disorders among patients with UC in Upper Egypt. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively analysed 33 patients with newly diagnosed UC of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital. For all participants, the following were conducted: clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (US) examination and laboratory investigations. Risk factors of hepatobiliary disorders were identified using univariate, then multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The frequency of hepatic disorders (fatty liver and elevated liver chemistry) was 75.8% in study patients while the frequency of biliary disorders (gallbladder stones and gallbladder wall thickening) was 54.5%. A higher risk of hepatic disorders was observed with older age (odds ratio (OR) 14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2-124). A higher risk of biliary disorders was observed with UC severe activity index (OR 27, 95% CI 3-292). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of hepatobiliary disorders in patients with UC exceeded what was previously reported. High frequency of hepatic disorders was related to older age, while that of biliary disorders was related to UC activity.

Association of ulcerative colitis (UC) with hepatobiliary disorders is well recognised. The most common hepatobiliary complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are fatty liver infiltration and cholelithiasis. The prevalence of liver dysfunction in IBD remains unclear. The aim of the study is to try to identify the frequency and risk factors of hepatobiliary disorders among patients with UC in Upper Egypt. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively analysed 33 patients with newly diagnosed UC of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital. For all participants, the following were conducted: clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasonography (US) examination and laboratory investigations. Risk factors of hepatobiliary disorders were identified using univariate, then multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The frequency of hepatic disorders (fatty liver and elevated liver chemistry) was 75.8% in study patients while the frequency of biliary disorders (gallbladder stones and gallbladder wall thickening) was 54.5%. A higher risk of hepatic disorders was observed with older age (odds ratio (OR) 14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2-124). A higher risk of biliary disorders was observed with UC severe activity index (OR 27, 95% CI 3-292). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of hepatobiliary disorders in patients with UC exceeded what was previously reported. High frequency of hepatic disorders was related to older age, while that of biliary disorders was related to UC activity.