Effect of hepatic steatosis on virological response to nucleos(t)ide analogs therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Aim: To evaluate the impact of hepatic steatosis on the outcome of treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection treated with oral antiviral therapy.Materials and methods: The study was designed in Erciyes University Medical Faculty Department of Gastroenterology. Patients who received oral antiviral therapy because of chronic hepatitis B were included in the study. Liver biopsy specimens were re-evaluated and classified according to Brunt’s steatosis classification. Virological response to oral antiviral therapy was compared between patients with and without steatosis.Results: One hundred and nineteen patients were included in the study, of which 36.1% had hepatic steatosis. Virological response rates were 81% and 85.5% in patients with steatosis and without steatosis, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in virological response rate between patients with and without steatosis (p: 0.78). Median hepatic fibrosis values were 3 and 2 in patients with steatosis and without steatosis respectively (p: 0.01).Conclusion: Many studies have researched the prevalence and effect of steatosis on the liver in chronic hepatitis B. Although steatosis does not affect the outcome of treatment, it is not a rare condition in chronic hepatitis B.