Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

Currently, the incidence of metabolic steatopathies is clearly increasing. Unlike simple fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of our study was to determine the factors associated with these complications in patients with NASH.

Methods

This is a retrospective study including all cirrhotic patients followed between January 2011 and December 2020. The severity of the cirrhosis was assessed by the CHILD-Pugh score. Six-monthly abdominal ultrasound monitoring was performed in all patients for the detection of HCC.

Results

One hundred and sixty six patients; 92 women (55.4%) and 74 men (44.6%) were included. The average age was 57.2 years (between 17 and 88 years). NASH was retained in 27 patients (16.3%) as the etiology of the cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was classified as CHILD A in 8 cases (29.6%), CHILD B in 13 cases (48.2%) and CHILD C in 6 cases (22.2%). Twenty two patients presented with edemato-ascitic decompensation (81.5%). Four patients (14.8%) developed hepatic encephalopathy. Esophageal varices were present on upper gastrointestinal fibroscopy in 26 patients (96.2%): grade 1 (11 cases), grade 2 (12 cases) and grade 3 (3 cases). Two patients (7.4%) developed hepatocellular carcinoma after 5 years and 6 years of progression respectively. Death occurred in 4 patients (14.8%) with a mean delay of 37 months.

Conclusion

In our study, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis related cirrhosis was found in 16.3% of all cirrhotic patients, of which 7.4% developed HCC.