The prevalence of metabolıc syndrome among chronıc hepatıtıs B patıents and ıts ımpact on lıver fıbrosıs

In chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its possible impact on the severity of liver histological lesions have not been adequately studied yet. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients who were admitted to Fırat University Gastroenterology Clinics for chronic HBV infection. Furhermore, it was also aimed to evaluate the possible relationship between metabolic syndrome and liver fibrosis.A group of 109 chronic HBV infected patients who were admitted to Fırat University Gastroenterology Clinics between Feb-July 2011, was investigated for the study.Demographic parameters such as arterial blood pressure, waist circumference, weight, height and hepatitis markers, blood chemistry values were determined in all patients. MetS criteria [according to the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Expert Panel on Detection, evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP-ATPIII), were evaluated for the study subjects. Of 109 chronic HBV patients, 24 were metabolic syndrome positive (% 22) and 85 were metabolic syndrome negative (% 78). The mean age of patients was 40.95±12.2 (between 18 and 78 years). The patients with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher ALP, triglycerides, HDL and increased demographic parameters (blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI). In histopathologic examination of liver biopsy specimens metabolic syndrome positive patients had been found to have higher mean histologic activity index and fibrosis score when compared to metabolic sendrome negative chronic HBV patients (9.67±2.94 and 8.39±2.69 p=0.047 ; 3,08±1.47 and 2,32±0.86 p=0.002 respectively).Metabolic syndrome is frequently seen among chronic HBV patients and appears to be associated independently with severe fibrosis. The patients with chronic hepatitis B and metabolic syndrome may benefit from early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.Key words: Chronic hepatitis B, metabolic syndrome, fibrosis.