Frequency of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and degree of hepatic steatosis in African-American patients

Background: This retrospective study evaluates the degree and distribution of hepatic steatosis in predominantly African-American patients who had liver biopsies over a period of five years in our institution. Method: A search in the pathology registry of Howard University Hospital was performed for the presence of fat in liver biopsies. Each biopsy was assessed. Results: Of the 320 liver biopsies that were reviewed, 61 were found to have steatosis. Fifty-six of the 61 patients were African-American. The mean body mass index in those African-American patients was found to be 30. Grade-1 steatosis was found in 16 patients, grade 2 in 22 patients, grade 3 in 14 patients and nine patients had grade-4 steatosis. Four patients fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). All four patients had simple steatosis without any inflammation. The frequency of NAFLD in our study population was found to be <2%. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was not found in any of our study population. Dyslipidemia was found in all four patients with steatosis. Conclusion: NAFLD has a low prevalence in African-American patients. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was not found in any of the African-American patients seen at our institution.