Dynamic change of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in chronic hepatitis C patients after viral eradication: A nationwide registry study in Taiwan
- Author:
Chung-Feng HUANG
1
,
2
;
Chia-Yen DAI
;
Yi-Hung LIN
;
Chih-Wen WANG
;
Tyng-Yuan JANG
;
Po-Cheng LIANG
;
Tzu-Chun LIN
;
Pei-Chien TSAI
;
Yu-Ju WEI
;
Ming-Lun YEH
;
Ming-Yen HSIEH
;
Chao-Kuan HUANG
;
Jee-Fu HUANG
;
Wan-Long CHUANG
;
Ming-Lung YU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(4):883-894
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background/Aims:Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a common manifestation in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Metabolic alterations in CHC are associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We aimed to elucidate whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication mitigates MASLD occurrence or resolution.
Methods:We enrolled 5,840 CHC patients whose HCV was eradicated by direct-acting antivirals in a nationwide HCV registry. MASLD and the associated cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after HCV cure.
Results:There were 2,147 (36.8%) patients with SLD, and 1,986 (34.0%) of them met the MASLD criteria before treatment. After treatment, HbA1c (6.0% vs. 5.9%, p<0.001) and BMI (24.8 kg/m2 vs. 24.7 kg/m2, p<0.001) decreased, whereas HDL-C (49.1 mg/dL vs. 51.9 mg/dL, p<0.001) and triglycerides (102.8 mg/dL vs. 111.9 mg/dL, p<0.001) increased significantly. The proportion of patients with SLD was 37.5% after HCV eradication, which did not change significantly compared with the pretreatment status. The percentage of the patients who had post-treatment MASLD was 34.8%, which did not differ significantly from the pretreatment status (p=0.17). Body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR] 0.89; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.85–0.92; p<0.001) was the only factor associated with MASLD resolution. In contrast, unfavorable CMRFs, including BMI (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.06–1.14; p<0.001) and HbA1c (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.04–1.35; p=0.01), were independently associated with MASLD development after HCV cure.
Conclusions:HCV eradication mitigates MASLD in CHC patients. CMRF surveillance is mandatory for CHC patients with metabolic alterations, which are altered after HCV eradication and predict the evolution of MASLD.
