Thyroid-stimulating hormone is associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

The relationship of thyroid function parameters with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unknown. Hence, we assessed the impact of thyroid function parameters on NASH in patients with CHB. Consecutive patients with CHB with concurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were recruited. Liver histology and baseline examinations were carried out in each patient. The associated risk factors for NASH were evaluated. A total of 361 patients with CHB with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included. There was a significant difference in the serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level between patients with NASH and non-NASH (3.24 ± 2.00 vs 2.05 ± 1.35 mIU/L, P < .01). Moreover, the NASH prevalence in patients with euthyroidism was significantly higher than in the subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) patients (P < .001). In multivariate analyses, higher serum concentration of TSH was significantly correlated with NASH (odds ratio [OR]: 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–2.31; P = .001). In particular, patients suffering from SCH had a higher risk of having NASH (OR: 4.28, 95% CI: 1.18–15.53; P = .027). Elevated serum TSH level was the independent predictive factor of incident NASH in patients with CHB. Whether the thyroid function parameters should be integrated into future diagnostic scores predicting advanced diseases requires further study.