McCullough, Arthur J.

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women. Women with PCOS have androgen excess as a defining feature. They also have increased insulin resistance and obesity, which are also risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, published data regarding PCOS as independent risk factor for NAFLD remain controversial. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the association between PCOS and NAFLD using a large national database. Methods We identified adult female patients (≥18 years) with PCOS using the National Inpatient Sample database between 2002 and 2014. The control group included patients who did not have a diagnosis of PCOS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to study the association of NAFLD with PCOS. Results Out of a total of 50 785 354 women, 77 415 (0.15%) had PCOS. These patients were younger (32.7 vs 54.8; p<0.001) and more likely to be obese (29.4% vs 8.6%; p<0.001) compared with non-PCOS patients. However, the PCOS group had less hypertension (23.2% vs 39.8%), dyslipidaemia (12% vs 17.8%) and diabetes mellitus (18.1% vs 18.3%) (p<0.001 for all). Using multivariate logistic regression, patients with PCOS had significantly higher rate of NAFLD (OR 4.30, 95% CI 4.11 to 4.50, p<0.001). Conclusion Our study showed that patients with PCOS have four times higher risk of developing NAFLD compared with women without PCOS. Further studies are needed to assess if specific PCOS treatments can affect NAFLD progression.

ABSTRACTBackground:The relations between hepatic steatosis and histological features of hepatocyte injury in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have yet to be examined. The aims of the present study were to establish associations between steatosis amount, type, and distribution in a well‐characterized group of children with biopsy‐proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Patients and Methods:One hundred eight children with NAFLD seen in 5 centers were studied. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Hematoxylin‐eosin and Masson trichrome stains were evaluated by 2 expert liver pathologists. Steatosis grade (0–3), type (macrovesicular, microvesicular, or mixed), and zone (1, 3, azonal, or panacinar) were determined. The NAFLD activity score and fibrosis stage were determined.Results:Median patient age was 12 years and median body mass index was 31 kg/m2. Fibrosis was present in 87%. The median NAFLD activity score was 4. Mild, moderate, and severe steatosis were present in 42%, 34%, and 24% of biopsies, respectively. Macrovesicular steatosis was present in 81% and mixed steatosis was present in 19%. Panacinar distribution of steatosis was most frequent (40%), followed by azonal (27%). Steatosis grade positively correlated with portal inflammation (P = 0.018). Azonal distribution positively correlated with presence of hepatocyte ballooning (P = 0.03). Biopsies with mixed steatosis were approximately 20 times more likely to have megamitochondria than those with macrovesicular steatosis alone (95% confidence interval 2.3–204.9). There was no relation between steatosis amount, type, or distribution to fibrosis stage.Conclusions:Specific histological patterns of steatosis in children are associated with histological markers of steatohepatitis. Ballooning and portal inflammation correlated well with features of steatosis.