Long-term influence of chemotherapy on steatosis-associated advanced hepatic fibrosis

To determine whether chemotherapy treatment at least 6 months prior to the detection of hepatic steatosis is associated with advanced hepatic fibrosis. Demographics, comorbid conditions, and laboratory data for cancer patients with hepatic steatosis were reviewed. The primary end point of this study was a low probability of fibrosis as calculated by the AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI)—a surrogate for the absence of histologic bridging fibrosis and/or cirrhosis. Of 279 patients, 117 (41.9 %) were treated with chemotherapy and 197 (66.3 %) had a low probability of fibrosis by APRI. A smaller proportion of patients treated with chemotherapy had a low probability of hepatic fibrosis compared with untreated patients (64.1 vs. 75.3 %, p = 0.04). On multivariable analysis, chemotherapy treatment was a negative predictive factor for a low probability of fibrosis (OR 0.366 [95 % CI 0.184–0.708], p < 0.01). Among chemotherapy-treated patients, 75 (64.1 %) had a low probability of fibrosis. There were no differences in chemotherapy duration (mean 7.8 vs. 7.5 cycles) and interval from last dose to steatosis diagnosis (24.3 vs. 21.4 months) between patients with and without a low probability of fibrosis. A smaller proportion of patients treated with irinotecan or 5-fluorouracil had a low probability of fibrosis (37.3 vs. 66.7 %, p = 0.04). On multivariable analysis, irinotecan or 5-fluorouracil treatment was a negative predictive factor for low probability of fibrosis (OR 0.277 [95 % CI 0.091–0.779], p = 0.02). Prior chemotherapy treatment, especially with 5-fluorouracil or irinotecan, is a negative predictor for the absence of advanced hepatic fibrosis among patients with steatosis.