AIM:To determine the associations between leptin and ghrelin concentrations and sustained virological response(SVR)in chronic hepatitis C patients with ste-atosis.METHODS:We retrospectively assessed 56 patients infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV)genotype-1 and 40 with HCV genotype-3.Patients with decompensated cirrhosis,and those with other causes of chronic liver disease,were excluded.Serum HCV-RNA concentra-tions were measured before the initiation of treatment;at weeks 12(for genotype 1 patients),24 and 48 during treatment;and 24 wk after the end of treatment.Genotype was determined using INNO-LIPA HCV as-says,and serum leptin and ghrelin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Biopsy specimens were scored according to the Ishak system and steatosis was graded as mild,moderate,or severe,according to the Brunt classif ication.RESULTS:Overall,SVR was positively related to the presence of genotype-3,to biopsy-determined lower histological stage of liver disease,and lower grade of steatosis.Patients ≥ 40 years old tended to be less responsive to therapy.In genotype-1 infected pa-tients,SVR was associated with a lower grade of liver steatosis,milder fibrosis,and an absence of insulin resistance.Genotype-1 infected patients who did not achieve SVR had significantly higher leptin concen-trations at baseline,with significant increases as the severity of steatosis worsened,whereas those who achieved SVR had higher ghrelin concentrations.In genotype-3 infected patients,SVR was associated only with fibrosis stage and lower homeostasis model as-sessment insulin resistance at baseline,but not with the degree of steatosis or leptin concentrations.Geno-type-3 infected patients who achieved SVR showed signif icant decreases in ghrelin concentration at end of treatment.Baseline ghrelin concentrations were elevat-ed in responders of both genotypes who had moderate and severe steatosis.CONCLUSION:Increased serum leptin before treat-ment may predict non-SVR,especially in HCV geno-type-1 infected patients,whereas increased ghrelin may predict SVR in genotype-1. AIM: To determine the associations between leptin and ghrelin concentrations and sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C patients with ste-atosis. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 56 patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype-1 and 40 with HCV genotype-3. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis, and those with other causes of chronic liver disease, were excluded. Serum HCV-RNA concentrates were measured before initiation of treatment; at weeks 12 (for genotype 1 patients), 24 and 48 during treatment; and 24 wk after the end of treatment. Genotype was determined using INNO-LIPA HCV as-says, and serum leptin and ghrelin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Biopsy specimens were scored according to the Ishak system and steatosis was graded as mild, moderate, or severe, according to the Brunt classif ications .RESULTS: Overall, SVR was positively related to the presence of genotype-3, to biopsy-determined lower histological stage of liver di sease, and lower grade of steatosis. Patients ≥ 40 years old tended to be less responsive to therapy. genotype-1 infected pa-tients, SVR was associated with a lower grade of liver steatosis, milder fibrosis, and an absence of insulin resistance . Genotype-1 infected patients who did not achieve SVR had significantly higher leptin concen-trations at baseline, with significant increases as the severity of steatosis worsened, rather those who achieved SVR had higher ghrelin concentrations.In genotype-3 infected patients, SVR was associated only with fibrosis stage and lower homeostasis model as-sessment insulin resistance at baseline, but not with the degree of steatosis or leptin concentrations. Geno-type-3 infected patients who achieved SVR showed signif icant decreases in ghrelin concentration at end of treatment. Baseline ghrelin concentrations were elevat-ed in responders of both genotypes who had moderate and severe steatosis. CONCLUSION: Increased serum leptin before treat-ment may predict n on-SVR, especially in HCV geno-type-1 infected patients, increased increased ghrelin may predict SVR in genotype-1.