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Glycogenosis is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is independently associated with ballooning, but lower steatosis and lower fibrosis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Allende, DS; Gawrieh, S; Cummings, OW; Belt, P; Wilson, L; Van Natta, M; Behling, CA; Carpenter, D; Gill, RM; Kleiner, DE; Yeh, MM; Guy, CD ...
Published in: Liver Int
May 2021

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Glycogen synthesis and storage are normal hepatocyte functions. However, glycogenosis, defined as excess hepatocyte glycogen visible by routine H&E light microscopy, has not been well characterized in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Glycogenosis in NAFLD liver biopsies was graded as "none", "focal" (in <50% of hepatocytes), or "diffuse" (in ≥50% of hepatocytes). Clinical and pathological variables associated with glycogenosis were assessed. 2047 liver biopsies were prospectively analysed. RESULTS: In adults and children, any glycogenosis was present in 54% of cases; diffuse glycogenosis was noted in approximately 1/3 of cases. On multiple logistic regression analysis, adults with glycogenosis tended to be older (P = .003), female (P = .04), have higher serum glucose (P = .01), and use insulin (P = .02). Adults tended to have lower steatosis scores (P = .006) and lower fibrosis stages (P = .005); however, unexpectedly, they also tended to have more hepatocyte injury including ballooning (P = .003). On multiple logistic regression analysis, paediatric patients with glycogenosis were more likely to be Hispanic (P = .03), have lower body weight (P = .002), elevated triglycerides (P = .001), and a higher fasting glucose (P = .007). Paediatric patients with glycogenosis also had less steatosis (P < .001) than those without. CONCLUSIONS: Glycogenosis is common in adult and paediatric NAFLD, and is associated with clinical features of insulin resistance. Glycogenosis is important to recognize histologically because it may be misinterpreted as ballooning, and when diffuse, confusion with glycogen storage disorders or glycogenic hepatopathy must be avoided. The newly observed dichotomous relationship between glycogenosis and increased liver cell injury but decreased steatosis and fibrosis requires further study.

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Published In

Liver Int

DOI

EISSN

1478-3231

Publication Date

May 2021

Volume

41

Issue

5

Start / End Page

996 / 1011

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Liver
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Humans
  • Glycogen Storage Disease
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology
  • Fibrosis
  • Female
  • Child
  • Adult
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
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Allende, D. S., Gawrieh, S., Cummings, O. W., Belt, P., Wilson, L., Van Natta, M., … NASH Clinical Research Network. (2021). Glycogenosis is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is independently associated with ballooning, but lower steatosis and lower fibrosis. Liver Int, 41(5), 996–1011. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.14773
Allende, Daniela S., Samer Gawrieh, Oscar W. Cummings, Patricia Belt, Laura Wilson, Mark Van Natta, Cynthia A. Behling, et al. “Glycogenosis is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is independently associated with ballooning, but lower steatosis and lower fibrosis.Liver Int 41, no. 5 (May 2021): 996–1011. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.14773.
Allende DS, Gawrieh S, Cummings OW, Belt P, Wilson L, Van Natta M, et al. Glycogenosis is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is independently associated with ballooning, but lower steatosis and lower fibrosis. Liver Int. 2021 May;41(5):996–1011.
Allende, Daniela S., et al. “Glycogenosis is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is independently associated with ballooning, but lower steatosis and lower fibrosis.Liver Int, vol. 41, no. 5, May 2021, pp. 996–1011. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/liv.14773.
Allende DS, Gawrieh S, Cummings OW, Belt P, Wilson L, Van Natta M, Behling CA, Carpenter D, Gill RM, Kleiner DE, Yeh MM, Chalasani N, Guy CD, NASH Clinical Research Network. Glycogenosis is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is independently associated with ballooning, but lower steatosis and lower fibrosis. Liver Int. 2021 May;41(5):996–1011.
Journal cover image

Published In

Liver Int

DOI

EISSN

1478-3231

Publication Date

May 2021

Volume

41

Issue

5

Start / End Page

996 / 1011

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Liver
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Humans
  • Glycogen Storage Disease
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology
  • Fibrosis
  • Female
  • Child
  • Adult