CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PREVALENCE OF LIVER FIBROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH METABOLICALLY RELATED NECROINFLAMMATORY CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS.

BackgroundThe coexistence of metabolic disorders with Chronic Hepatitis B has become an important clinical issue in hepatology. Increasing evidence suggests that metabolic abnormalities, including Hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, may influence the progression of chronic viral liver disease and contribute to necro-inflammatory activity and the development of Liver Fibrosis. However, the extent to which viral or host-related metabolic factors contribute to hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B remains insufficiently clarified. ObjectiveAim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic disturbances and their association with necro-inflammatory changes and liver fibrosis in patients with viral hepatitis. MethodsThis study included 74 patients diagnosed with viral hepatitis. Clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations identified metabolic disturbances in 24 patients. Group 1 included patients with metabolic disturbances (n=24) and group 2 included those without metabolic disturbances (n=50). The groups were compared in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), viral load, and other biochemical parameters. Patients in group 1 were further categorized according to the severity of metabolic abnormalities. Results In group 1 (n=24), mean age, BMI, cholesterol, and HOMA-IR values were significantly higher compared with group 2 (n=50). There were no significant differences between the groups in viral load, HBeAg positivity, or other laboratory parameters. Logistic regression analysis identified HOMA-IR as the only independent predictor of metabolic disturbances in patients with viral hepatitis. Conclusion Metabolic disturbances in patients with viral hepatitis were primarily associated with host metabolic factors rather than viral characteristics. Early identification and management of these metabolic abnormalities may help prevent progression of liver injury.