Comparison between metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: From nomenclature to clinical outcomes

Mohammad Alomari; Mamoon Ur Rashid; Pravallika Chadalavada; Jonathan Ragheb; Hammad Zafar; Zoilo Karim Suarez; Shrouq Khazaaleh; Adalberto Jose Gonzalez; Fernando J Castro

doi:10.4254/wjh.v15.i4.477

Comparison between metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: From nomenclature to clinical outcomes

World J Hepatol. 2023 Apr 27;15(4):477-496. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i4.477.

Authors

Mohammad Alomari¹, Mamoon Ur Rashid², Pravallika Chadalavada², Jonathan Ragheb², Hammad Zafar², Zoilo Karim Suarez³, Shrouq Khazaaleh⁴, Adalberto Jose Gonzalez², Fernando J Castro²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL 33331, United States. dr_mohd1987@hotmail.com.
² Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL 33331, United States.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Florida Atlantic University Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL 33431, United States.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, Cleveland, OH 44126, United States.

Abstract

As a result of the obesity epidemic, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its complications have increased among millions of people. Consequently, a group of experts recommended changing the term NAFLD to an inclusive terminology more reflective of the underlying pathogenesis; metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This new term of MAFLD has its own disease epidemiology and clinical outcomes prompting efforts in studying its differences from NAFLD. This article discusses the rationale behind the nomenclature change, the main differences, and its clinical implications.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Fatty liver disease; Metabolic associated fatty liver disease; Non alcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity.

Publication types

Review