Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and the cardiometabolic syndrome

J Cardiometab Syndr. 2006 Winter;1(1):36-40. doi: 10.1111/j.0197-3118.2006.05523.x.

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now considered to be the most common liver disease in the United States and involves a spectrum of progressive histopathologic changes. Common risk factors associated with NAFLD include obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Although most patients with NAFLD have simple hepatic steatosis, a significant number develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which may progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, or end-stage liver disease. There is increasing evidence that NAFLD is a common feature in patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome, a onstellation of metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, and inflammatory abnormalities in which insulin resistance is thought to play a key role in end-organ pathogenesis. NAFLD is usually diagnosed after abnormal liver chemistry results are found during routine laboratory testing. No therapy has been proven effective for treating NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Expert opinion emphasizes the importance of exercise, weight loss in obese and overweight individuals, treatment of hyperlipidemia, and glucose control.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Fatty Liver / epidemiology
  • Fatty Liver / etiology*
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Metabolic Syndrome / complications*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Interleukins