Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Metabolic Disorders and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Literature Review
Mohammad Ebrahim Ghamar-Chehreh *
Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohsen Amini
Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein Khedmat
Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Saeed Taheri
Dr. Taheri Medical Research Group, Tehran, Iran.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent metabolic disorder both in industrialized and developing countries that makes a large health and financial burden to the patients and the society. In the current article, we review the existing literature to find evidence for interactions between these two conditions.
Methodology: A comprehensive review of the literature has been performed to find associations between HCV infection and NAFLD disease, Pubmed database was our primary search source, and then related citations were found through Google Scholar search.
Discussion and Conclusion: The literature suggest that in NAFLD patients with HCV, attention should be paid not only to optimize the antiviral response but also to screen for and treatment of the various components of the metabolic syndrome. Prospective studies are needed for confirming our data.
Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, HCV, metabolic disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD