Weight Loss Improves Liver Abnormalities in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

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Weight Loss Improves Liver Abnormalities in Patients With Chronic

Hepatitis C

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 24 - Steatosis and elevated liver

enzyme levels are a common finding in patients with chronic hepatitis

C. New study findings indicate that both of these abnormalities may

be improved by weight loss.

Apart from avoiding alcohol use, there have been few reports of

lifestyle changes that can improve hepatitis C liver disease.

However, in some patients with chronic hepatitis C, the pathogenesis

of steatosis appears similar to that seen in patients with

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Namely, the steatosis is related

to the presence of visceral adiposity and elevated serum insulin

levels.

Based on this, Dr. E. E. , from Princess andra Hospital in

Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues decided to investigate if weight

loss would improve the steatosis and abnormal enzyme levels seen in

patients with chronic hepatitis C. The researchers' findings are

published in the July issue of Gut.

The study involved 19 patients with steatosis and chronic hepatitis C

who participated in a 3-month weight reduction program. Liver

histology was determined in 10 subjects before and after the weight

loss intervention.

The subjects experienced a mean weight loss of 5.9 kg and mean waist

circumference reduction of 9.0 cm. In most patients, serum alanine

aminotransferase levels fell progressively as weight decreased.

Furthermore, a significant reduction in fasting insulin levels was

also observed (p < 0.002).

Nine patients experienced a reduction in steatosis and the extent of

improvement was directly related to the amount of weight loss (p =

0.005), the authors note. Moreover, the improvement was independent

of the viral genotype present. Five of these nine patients also

demonstrated a reduction in fibrosis.

" These results demonstrate for the first time that weight reduction

in patients with chronic HCV may reduce hepatic steatosis, " the

investigators point out. " We believe that weight reduction may

provide an important new adjunct treatment strategy for patients with

chronic hepatitis C. "

Gut 2002;51:89-94.

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