Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently represents the most common liver disease in Western countries, being found in 25-30% of the general population. NAFLD embraces a wide range of metabolic hepatic damage characterised by steatosis and, in some cases, associated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The long-term hepatic prognosis of NAFLD patients depends on the histological stage at diagnosis: simple steatosis has a favourable outcome, whereas patients with NASH can develop cirrhosis and other liver-related complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma.
Progression of fibrosis is thought to develop in up to one third of NASH patients, including the development of cirrhosis, but regression is also possible in pre-cirrhotic stages. Independent predictors of fibrosis are older age, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and the degree of insulin resistance. Patients with NAFLD, particularly those with NASH, have a higher prevalence and incidence of clinically manifested cardiovascular disease, independently of classical cardiometabolic risk factors. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually diagnosed at a late stage, but it may also occur in non-cirrhotic NASH, as obesity and diabetes both independently increases the risk of developing HCC. Liver-related mortality is increased up to ten-fold in patients with NASH.
Keywords: Fatty liver, steatohepatitis, hepatic complications, fibrosis predictors, cardiovascular complications, mortality.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Epidemiology and Natural History of Patients with NAFLD
Volume: 19 Issue: 29
Author(s): Neeraj Bhala, Ramy Ibrahim Kamal Jouness and Elisabetta Bugianesi
Affiliation:
Keywords: Fatty liver, steatohepatitis, hepatic complications, fibrosis predictors, cardiovascular complications, mortality.
Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently represents the most common liver disease in Western countries, being found in 25-30% of the general population. NAFLD embraces a wide range of metabolic hepatic damage characterised by steatosis and, in some cases, associated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The long-term hepatic prognosis of NAFLD patients depends on the histological stage at diagnosis: simple steatosis has a favourable outcome, whereas patients with NASH can develop cirrhosis and other liver-related complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma.
Progression of fibrosis is thought to develop in up to one third of NASH patients, including the development of cirrhosis, but regression is also possible in pre-cirrhotic stages. Independent predictors of fibrosis are older age, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and the degree of insulin resistance. Patients with NAFLD, particularly those with NASH, have a higher prevalence and incidence of clinically manifested cardiovascular disease, independently of classical cardiometabolic risk factors. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually diagnosed at a late stage, but it may also occur in non-cirrhotic NASH, as obesity and diabetes both independently increases the risk of developing HCC. Liver-related mortality is increased up to ten-fold in patients with NASH.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Bhala Neeraj, Jouness Ibrahim Kamal Ramy and Bugianesi Elisabetta, Epidemiology and Natural History of Patients with NAFLD, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2013; 19 (29) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990336
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990336 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Evidence for, and Importance of, cGMP-Independent Mechanisms with NO and NO Donors on Blood Vessels and Platelets
Current Vascular Pharmacology Hepatic Injury to the Newborn Liver Due to Drugs
Current Pharmaceutical Design Small Artery Remodeling in Obesity and Insulin Resistance
Current Vascular Pharmacology The Hellp Syndrome: A Review
Current Women`s Health Reviews Editorial (Thematic Issue: Critical Appraisal of Ischemic Stroke Pathophysiology: Road to Cerebral Resuscitation? Part I)
Current Medicinal Chemistry subject Index To Volume 3
Current Drug Targets Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some [1,2,4]Triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]Thiadiazoles and [1,2,4]Triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]Thiadiazines
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Antenatal Maternal Antidepressants Drugs Affect S100B Concentrations in Fetal-Maternal Biological Fluids
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Recommendations for Severe Hypertriglyceridemia Treatment, are there New Strategies?
Current Vascular Pharmacology The Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes
Current Diabetes Reviews Statin Related Memory Dysfunction in a Nigerian Woman: A Case Report
Current Drug Safety Cell Adhesion Molecules as Pharmaceutical Target in Atherosclerosis
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Novel Mutation of the NOTCH3 Gene in a Chinese Pedigree with CADASIL
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Drug-Membrane Interactions: Significance for Medicinal Chemistry
Current Medicinal Chemistry Epidemiology of Gout: Perspectives from the Past
Current Rheumatology Reviews On the Role of Endothelial TRPC3 Channels in Endothelial Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Incretin-Based Therapies in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Current Drug Therapy Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor as a Molecular Target for Inflammatory Diseases
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Big Data and Genome Editing Technology: A New Paradigm of Cardiovascular Genomics
Current Cardiology Reviews Desensitization Protocol for Rituximab-Induced Serum Sickness
Current Drug Safety