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Daily cannabis use increases hepatic fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients by increasing the accumulation of liver fibrogenic cells (JW Gastroenterol Aug 30 2005). In addition, recent animal studies have suggested that endocannabinoids promote steatosis. In the current cross-sectional study, investigators evaluated the relation between cannabis use and hepatic steatosis among 315 HCV patients at a single center in France.
Approximately 70% of the patients were men; mean age was 45, and average body-mass index was 24.8. Sixty-three percent of patients were infected with HCV genotype 1 and 21% with genotype 3. Ongoing alcohol abuse was noted in 13% of patients. Sixty-four percent of study participants were nonusers of cannabis,…