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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Optimized Analysis of In Vivo and In Vitro Hepatic Steatosis
Published on: March 11, 2017
Review article: hepatitis C virus-associated steatosis--pathogenic mechanisms and clinical implications
L E Adinolfi1, E Durante-Mangoni, R Zampino
1Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. luigielio.adinolfi@unina2.it
Abstract:
Steatosis is a common feature of chronic hepatitis C, and may be caused directly by the virus, as in genotype 3 infection, or be associated with host metabolic factors. The interaction of hepatitis C virus core protein with the lipoprotein secretion pathways causes the characteristic alterations of lipid metabolism observed in hepatitis C virus-related steatosis. Several pathogenic mechanisms are likely involved into the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus-related steatosis, including hyper-homocysteinaemia, hypoadiponectinaemia and insulin resistance. Steatosis is a major determinant of the liver damage progression in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), and negatively affects the response rate to the interferon (IFN)-based anti-viral treatment. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that steatosis may contribute to liver carcinogenesis. Chronic hepatitis C is a recognized risk factor for type 2 diabetes and it could be implicated into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related steatosis in these epidemiological associations remains to be determined.
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