Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease affecting millions of people worldwide with potentially serious complications that may lead to mortality and constitute a significant socioeconomic burden. Although modern lifestyle, obesity and insulin resistance play leading roles in the pathophysiology of the disease, various metabolic aberrations, as well as genetic predisposition participate in the development and progression of NAFLD. The diagnosis of NAFLD, especially the early recognition of NASH and fibrosis, is vital for the early management of the disease. Many diagnostic methods have been developed for the disease, ranging from liver biopsy to imaging techniques and serum biomarkers, each one followed by advantages and disadvantages. Despite the extensive research in this field, there is to-date no licensed pharmacological treatment. However, several medications have been investigated and provided promising results; in this regard, the results of some phase III clinical trials in NASH patients are expected. Until the approval of specific for the disease medications, the cornerstone of its management remains lifestyle modifications, i.e. dietary changes and increase in physical activity.