TABLE 1.
Demographic, clinical, and histological characteristics of the patients
| Factor | Normal Biopsy (N = 13) | Steatosis (N = 23) | NASH (N = 37) | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic | ||||
| Female | 7 (53.9) | 11 (47.8) | 21 (56.8) | 0.8 |
| Caucasian | 10 (76.9) | 18 (78.3) | 33 (89.2) | 0.42 |
| Age | 45 (42, 53) | 47 (38, 59) | 53 (44, 58) | 0.26 |
| Clinical | ||||
| BMI | 29.7 (26.8, 32) | 30.6 (27, 33.4) | 32 (30.7, 34.5) | 0.039 |
| AST | 43 (34, 56) | 50 (36, 60) | 63 (46, 84)a | 0.019 |
| ALT | 59 (44, 71) | 65 (42, 90) | 82 (42, 112) | 0.56 |
| HOMA | 1 (0.4, 1.6) | 1.4 (0.8, 2.7) | 5.5 (3, 12.9)a,b | <0.001 |
| Diabetesc | 3 (25) | 5 (21.7) | 14 (38.9) | 0.34 |
| Hyperlipidemiad | 7 (58.3) | 10 (43.5) | 20 (55.6) | 0.59 |
| Hypertensione | 3 (25) | 8 (36.4) | 18 (51.4) | 0.22 |
| Platelet | 269 (231.5, 304.5) | 247 (207, 312) | 225 (199, 262) | 0.076 |
| Cholesterol | 160 (158, 211) | 211 (169, 239) | 192 (162, 236) | 0.39 |
| Triglycerides | 86 (69, 94) | 160 (107, 210)a | 192 (139, 241)a | 0.003 |
| HDL | 62 (50, 70) | 56 (47, 63) | 44 (40, 50)a,b | 0.003 |
| LDL | 77.6 (75.2, 128) | 119.0 (94.4, 135.6) | 107.0 (94.4, 153.4) | 0.54 |
| Histologic | ||||
| Fibrosis | <0.001 | |||
| 0 | 13 (100) | 20 (87) | 2 (5.4)a,b | |
| 1 | 0 (0.0) | 3 (13.0) | 11 (29.7) | |
| 2 | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (16.2) | |
| 3 | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 12 (32.4) | |
| 4 | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (16.2) | |
| Inflammation | – | |||
| None/minimal | 13 (100) | 19 (82.6) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Mild | 0 (0.0) | 4 (17.4) | 16 (44.4) | |
| Moderate | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 19 (52.8) | |
| Severe | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.8) | |
| Steatosis | – | |||
| None/minimal | 13 (100) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| 5–33% | 1 (7.7) | 13 (56.5) | 4 (11.1) | |
| 34–66% | 0 (0.0) | 10 (43.5) | 20 (55.6) | |
| >66% | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 12 (33.3) | |
| Ballooning | – | |||
| None | 13 (100) | 21 (91.3) | 1 (2.8) | |
| Few | 0 (0.0) | 2 (8.7) | 16 (44.4) | |
| Many | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 19 (52.8) | |
| NAS | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 2 (1, 2) | 5 (5, 6) | – |
Values presented as mean (± SD) or median (25th–75th quartile). Pairwise comparisons were done using Pearson's chi-square for categorical factors and the Stee-Dwass procedure for continuous factors. Significance criterion is 0.017. ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate transaminase; BMI, body mass index; HOMA index: Homeostatic Model Assessment index; NAS, NAFLD activity score. Boldface type indicates statistically significant. (See Statistical methods for details.)
Significantly different from normal biopsy group.
Significantly different from hepatic steatosis group.
Diabetes mellitus: history of diabetes, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dl and/or on hypoglycemic agents.
Hyperlipidemia: history of high plasma cholesterol, total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dl, and/or on hypolipidemic agents.
Hypertension: history of hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120/80 mm Hg, and/or on anti-hypertensive agents.