Prevalence and clinical impact of hepatic steatosis on autoimmune liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

The clinical impact of hepatic steatosis (HS) among patients with autoimmune liver disease (AILD) remains unclear. We aim to determine the prevalence of HS and its clinical impact on treatment response and outcomes in patients with AILD.

METHODS

We systematically searched 3 electronic databases until 17 December 2025, including all studies that reported the prevalence, clinical impact, and treatment response of AILD patients with concomitant HS. The temporal trend of HS prevalence was analyzed using a quasi-Poisson regression model, with annual percent changes (APC, %) calculated.

RESULTS

Overall, 44 studies, comprising 19,898 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) were included. The pooled prevalence of HS in patients with AIH, PBC, and PSC was 27.3%, 32.9%, and 21.6%, respectively. HS prevalence has significantly increased among PBC patients since 2010 (APC: +37.4%). While concomitant HS was associated with a higher risk of hepatic decompensation (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.3-2.1, I2=0%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.6, I2=0%) in patients with AIH, HS did not influence the clinical outcomes in patients with PBC. Treatment response in AIH and PBC was not influenced by concomitant HS. Available data on PSC with concomitant HS were insufficient to assess its association with clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

AIH patients with concomitant HS had worse outcomes than those without HS; whereas HS did not influence the clinical outcomes in patients with PBC. Future research evaluating the impact of HS on PSC and overlap syndrome is much needed.