Association of metabolic syndrome with the risk of developing liver disease in chronic hepatitis B patients

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolic parameter that increases ones risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Metabolic profiles have been linked to progression of varying stages of liver disease in chronic hepatitis B infection. The main objective of this prospective cross sectional study was to establish a link between metabolic syndrome indicators and markers of progression of liver disease in chronic hepatitis B infection. This could provide data leading to an alternative to managing the complications of chronic hepatitis B infection by possibly targeting metabolic precursors and their pathways which will be more targeting, sensitive and has minimal treatment complications than the conventional treatment regimes. In all, 200 chronic hepatitis B patients were sampled of which 100 met the United State National Cholesterol Education Program –Adult Treatment Panel III (US NCEP ATP III) 2005 criterion for metabolic syndrome. Anthropometric data and biochemistry analysis were performed. Obesity and dyslipidemia markers except HDL were higher in metabolic syndrome while haematological makers except WBC were lower in metabolic syndrome. Markers of liver carcinogenesis were generally higher in metabolic syndrome and strongly associated (p=0.01) with initial hepatocellular necrosis and cirrhosis stages of liver carcinogenesis than the intermediary fibrosis stages suggesting virologic mechanism may be responsible more for the fibrosis than metabolic factors. Metabolic syndrome was associated with the developing of various hepatitis B related liver complications. A long term study to elucidate viral genomic and dietary contributions to liver complications due to hepatitis B is necessary.   Key words: Metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, carcinogenesis, anthropometry, chronic hepatitis, dyslipidemia, haematological, hepatocellular, fibrosis.