Published in:
01-10-2006 | Original Paper
Predictors of Cirrhosis in Hispanic Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors:
Waleed M. Alazmi, Arie Regev, Enrique G. Molina, Eugene R. Schiff
Published in:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|
Issue 10/2006
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Abstract
It is estimated that 43% of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) will progress to liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. Although NASH is more common in Hispanics, most studies have been conducted on Caucasians, and there is scarce information regarding ethnic differences in this disease. The aim of this study was to identify the independent predictors of cirrhosis in Hispanic patients with NASH. A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 80 patients with biopsy-proven NASH. Forty-two were Hispanic (study group) and 38 were Caucasians controlled for age and BMI (control group). Clinical, biochemical, and histologic features were analyzed for correlation with cirrhosis. There were no significant differences in demographic features between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of cirrhosis among Hispanic patients were age (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.14) and AST/ALT ratio (OR, 10.56; 95% CI; 2.46–45.29), while independent predictors among non-Hispanic patients were age (OR, 1.085; 95% CI, 1.0–1.186), and diabetes mellitus (OR, 6.46; 95% CI, 1.19–35.07). In patients with NASH, predictors of cirrhosis varied according to ethnic background. Age was an independent predictor in both groups, however, AST/ALT ratio was found to be an independent predictor of cirrhosis only in Hispanic patients, and diabetes mellitus only in non-Hispanic patients.