Can Detection of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease be Coincidental in Young Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B?

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with the presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in young persons who are hepatitis B surface antigene (HBsAg)-positive and negative, and to investigate if NAFLD coexisting hepatitis B virus (HBV) is coincidental. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study, conducted in a military hospital in Turkey, included a total of 384 subjects. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the presence of NAFLD detected by ultrasonography (US). Sociodemographic characteristics, biochemical, histopathological, virological and US results were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. Results: The median age of the patients, all of whom were male, was 26 years (20-40). NAFLD was identified in 16.9% of patients. HBsAg positivity was found in 36.9% of patients with NAFLD. It was remarkable that no statistically significant difference was found in HBsAg positivity between the patients with and without NAFLD (p=0.661). NAFLD was found in 13.2% of HBsAg-positive patients. NAFLD was determined in 20.3% of HBsAg-negative patients. No significant difference was found in NAFLD grades between HBsAg-positive and negative patients (p=0.158). In the present study, only.-glutamyl transferase in HBsAg positive patients, and age, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase in HBsAg negative patients were determined as the most important factors associated with the presence of NAFLD. Conclusion: We found that HBsAg positivity is not correlated with the development of NAFLD in young patients, and coexistence of NAFLD and HBV might be coincidental.