Association of insulin resistance with hepatic steatosis and progression of fibrosis in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the relationships between insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and fibrosis in consecutive non-diabetic Chinese CHC patients with biopsy results. METHODOLOGY: A total of 192 patients were enrolled. Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Steatosis was assessed as the percentage of hepatocytes containing macrovesicular fat droplets and degree of hepatic fibrosis was graded by the METAVIR scoring system. RESULTS: As compared with no steatosis group, patients with hepatic steatosis had significantly higher BMI (24.5+/-0.4 vs. 22.3+/-0.3 kg/m2, p 2.5 (odds ratio: 2.46, 95% C.I.=1.24-4.90, p=0.010) as independent factors associated with F3-F4 fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese CHC patients, insulin resistance can occur in earlier stage of infection and closely related with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.