Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
07:27
The Murine Choline-Deficient, Ethionine-Supplemented (CDE) Diet Model of Chronic Liver Injury
Published on: October 21, 2017
Resting energy expenditure in chronic hepatitis C
T Piche1, S M Schneider, A Tran
1Department of Hepatogastroenterology and Nutrition, Archet Hospital, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France.
Journal of Hepatology
|November 4, 2000
Summary
Patients with chronic hepatitis C have increased resting energy expenditure (REE), a condition known as hypermetabolism. Interferon therapy effectively normalized REE in patients who responded to treatment.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Metabolic Medicine
- Viral Infections
Background:
- Hypermetabolism is clinically relevant in liver disease and chronic viral infections.
- The metabolic state in chronic hepatitis C, specifically resting energy expenditure (REE), was previously unknown.
- Understanding REE in hepatitis C is crucial for managing liver disease complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the metabolic state of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- To evaluate the impact of interferon therapy on REE in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Indirect calorimetry was used to measure REE.
- Bioelectric impedance analysis assessed fat-free mass (FFM).
- 47 patients and 20 controls were studied, with REE measured before and during interferon therapy.
Main Results:
- Patients with chronic hepatitis C exhibited higher REE relative to FFM compared to controls.
- A positive correlation was observed between REE/FFM and hepatitis C viral load.
- Interferon therapy significantly reduced REE/FFM in responders, normalizing it to control levels.
Conclusions:
- Chronic hepatitis C is associated with hypermetabolism.
- Interferon therapy normalizes hypermetabolism in responders.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and clinical significance of this hypermetabolism.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Liver Physiology
The liver, an essential organ in the human body, performs over 200 vital functions that can be broadly categorized into metabolic, hematological, endocrine regulation, and bile production.
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can also...
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can also...
01:23Cirrhosis I: Introduction
Cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible liver disease characterized by the widespread replacement of healthy liver tissue with fibrotic scar tissue and the formation of regenerative nodules.Etiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis results from sustained liver injury that triggers progressive fibrosis and structural remodeling. The underlying causes are diverse, encompassing common and less frequent clinical conditions. Regardless of the origin, all causes lead to chronic inflammation, hepatocyte loss, and...
01:24Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology
Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...