Usefulness of the SAF score to characterize NAFLD/NASH in non-cirrhotic HCV patients

Abstract Background The SAF score (steatosis, activity, and fibrosis) has been developed for the assessment of histological severity nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) steatohepatitis (NASH). aim this study was to assess usefulness in a homogenous cohort Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection (CHC) without any alcohol consumption cirrhosis. We performed prospective cross-sectional including 70 consecutive characterize NAFLD/NASH non-cirrhotic patients. inclusion criteria included positive serum anti-HCV IgG antibody HCVRNA, absence treatment, cirrhosis (fibrosis < F4). Patients were divided into two groups: metabolic syndrome (MS) (non-MS). All exposed thorough history taking, full clinical examination, laboratory ultrasound assessment. Histopathologic evaluation biopsy steatosis, grade, fibrosis stage assessed by 2 pathologists experience diseases. Results found that degree increases aging. Liver biopsies from CHC exhibited significantly higher than those MS; however, grade inflammation did not differ between groups. No significant correlation body mass index (BMI) or RNA. relation score, fibrosis, MS. MS level viremia. Conclusion concluded steatosis associated stage, independently This suggests population, might be more related NAFLD progression related, at least part, process, i.e., virus-associated (VAFLD).