The clinical associations with hepatic steatosis: a retrospective study

Hepatic steatosis is a common liver biopsy finding. As a preamble to a study of nonA, nonB hepatitis we aimed to determine the clinical associations in patients who had hepatic steatosis on biopsy. All liver biopsies performed in the gastroenterology department at Auckland Hospital between 1986 and 1989 were reviewed for evidence of steatosis and the clinical associations analysed. Steatosis was present in 69 (43.7%) of 158 liver biopsy specimens with 35 being mild (47%), 29 moderate (45%) and five severe (7%). Excess alcohol intake was the probable aetiological association in 28 (45%), obesity in 17 (27%) and diabetes mellitus in seven (11%). No causal association could be identified in 17 (24%) and included three of the five cases with severe steatosis. There were no significant differences in clinical presentation, biochemistry or hepatic histopathology between alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatosis. Nonalcoholic steatosis appeared to be more benign with only one case of cirrhosis but further follow up is required to determine true prognosis.