Development and progression of hepatic steatosis during long-term glucocorticoid therapy in autoimmune…

Cohort studyFrontiers in medicine· 2026

Development and progression of hepatic steatosis during long-term glucocorticoid therapy in autoimmune hepatitis: multimodal evidence from biopsy, CAP, and ultrasound.

Yijun Bao, Yu Zhang, Li Wang, Yongfeng Yang

Abdominal & Body ImagingCohort studyQ1IF 3.4

Ultrasound-detected steatosis doubled after long-term glucocorticoid therapy for autoimmune hepatitis

Development and progression of hepatic steatosis during long-term glucocorticoid therapy in autoimmune hepatitis: multimodal evidence from biopsy, CAP, and ultrasound.

Yijun Bao … Yongfeng Yang

Frontiers in medicine · 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

Autoimmune hepatitis (autoimmune hepatitis) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease treated with glucocorticoids (glucocorticoids).

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of prolonged glucocorticoids therapy on hepatic steatosis in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed patients with autoimmune hepatitis treated at a single center from January 2017 to December 2023.

n = 160 patients

Results

ultrasound-detected fatty liver nearly doubled after prolonged glucocorticoid treatment

More results

Of 160 patients, 43 (26.88%) developed new-onset or progressive hepatic steatosis.

Elevated triglyceride levels at 6 months were independently associated with new-onset or progressive hepatic steatosis.

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Conclusion

Six-month triglyceride levels may serve as an early metabolic marker for identifying patients at increased risk, supporting dynamic metabolic and steatosis monitoring during long-term immunosuppressive treatment.