C282Y and H63D Mutations in the HFE Gene Are Not Associated With Porphyria Cutanea Tarda in Bulgaria

there was overall a significant asso-ciation between grade of steatosis and increasing fibrosis, andthis did not differ between genotypes 1 and 3a.We agree with the conclusions of Dr. Adinolfi et al. that inpatients infected with HCV genotype 1, increasing BMI has arole in the pathogenesis of steatosis. In patients with geno-type 3a, steatosis may be caused by a cytopathic effect of thevirus; however, we suspect that host body fat also contributesas a cofactor. This suggests that efforts to restore a lean BMImay be relevant in patients infected with either genotype.J