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Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: An overview
Author(s) -
Mulhall Brian P,
Ong Janus P,
Younossi Zobair M
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2002.02881.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fatty liver , steatohepatitis , cirrhosis , disease , insulin resistance , epidemiology , alcoholic liver disease , steatosis , metabolic syndrome , gastroenterology , intensive care medicine , insulin , obesity
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) includes a spectrum of clinicopathological conditions with increasing prevalence in the developed world. Although steatosis alone seems to have a benign course, those patients with the diagnosis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can have a progressive course. Additionally, there is now evolving, indirect evidence that some of the patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis may be the result of ‘burned‐out’ NASH. Although NAFL and NASH are associated with insulin‐resistance syndrome, some patients with NAFL may have no obvious risk factors. Despite preliminary data from a number of pilot studies, no established therapies can be offered to patients with NASH. Over the next few years, a number of exciting research projects dealing with the epidemiology as well as the pathogenesis of NAFL are expected to be completed. It is anticipated that, through a better understanding of NAFL, more effective treatment protocols can be developed targeting only those patients with NASH that are at the highest risk for progression to cirrhosis and liver failure. © 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd