Clinicopathological study of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Japan: the risk factors for fibrosis

  1. Hisamitsu Miyaaki1,
  2. Tatsuki Ichikawa1,
  3. Kazuhiko Nakao1,
  4. Hiroshi Yatsuhashi2,
  5. Ryuji Furukawa3,
  6. Kazuo Ohba4,
  7. Katsuhisa Omagari4,
  8. Yukio Kusumoto5,
  9. Kenji Yanagi6,
  10. Osami Inoue7,
  11. Noboru Kinoshita8,
  12. Hiromi Ishibashi2,
  13. Michitami Yano2,
  14. Katsumi Eguchi1

Article first published online: 1 NOV 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01614.x

Issue

Liver International

Liver International

Volume 28, Issue 4, pages 519–524, April 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Miyaaki, H., Ichikawa, T., Nakao, K., Yatsuhashi, H., Furukawa, R., Ohba, K., Omagari, K., Kusumoto, Y., Yanagi, K., Inoue, O., Kinoshita, N., Ishibashi, H., Yano, M. and Eguchi, K. (2008), Clinicopathological study of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Japan: the risk factors for fibrosis. Liver International, 28: 519–524. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01614.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    The First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan

  2. 2

    Clinical Research Center, National Nagasaki Medical Center, Omura, Nagasaki, Japan

  3. 3

    The Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki Red Cross Atomic Bomb Hospital, Mori, Nagasaki, Japan

  4. 4

    The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan

  5. 5

    The Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki Municipal Hospital,Shinchi, Nagasaki, Japan

  6. 6

    The Department of Internal Medicine, Inoue Hospital,Takara, Nagasaki, Japan

  7. 7

    Digestive Organ Department, Nagasaki Labour Welfare Hospital, Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

  8. 8

    The Department of Internal Medicine, Sasebo Chuo Hospital, Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

*Correspondence Hisamitsu Miyaaki, MD, The First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan Tel: +81 958 49 7267 Fax: +81 958 49 7267 e-mail: miyaaki-hi@umin.ac.jp

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 NOV 2007
  2. Article first published online: 1 NOV 2007
  3. Received 7 February 2007accepted 20 September 2007

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Keywords:

  • gender;
  • hypertension;
  • liver fibrosis;
  • non alcoholic fatty liver disease;
  • older age;
  • type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background/Aims: We evaluated patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and compared the clinical and pathological features to identify the risk factors for NAFLD with severe fibrosis.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-two patients with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD from various medical centres were recruited into this study.

Results: The variables that were significantly associated with severe steatosis were male gender (mild:severe=36%:53%, P=0.02), younger age (mild:severe=57%:82%, P>0.001) and absence of type 2 diabetes (mild:severe=43%:71%, P>0.001). There was no significant difference in the degree of inflammation among the clinical groups. The variables that were significantly associated with severe fibrosis were female gender (mild:severe=54%:84%, P=0.002), older age (≥60 years old) (mild:severe=29%:53%, P=0.020), type 2 diabetes (mild:severe=42%:71%, P=0.020) and hypertension (mild:severe=24%:53%, P=0.002). Although there were more obese patients in the group with severe fibrosis, the association was not statistically significant (mild:severe=67%:78%, P=0.229). The prevalence of high serum triglyceride levels was similar between the two groups. The N (Nippon) score (total number of risk factor) could significantly predict severe fibrosis in NAFLD patients (1.48 ± 1.14 vs. 2.66 ± 0.94, P<0.001).

Conclusions: The N score can be used to predict severe fibrosis in cases of NAFLD.

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