Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in lean individuals

JHEP Rep. 2019 Aug 30;1(4):329-341. doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2019.08.002. eCollection 2019 Oct.

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, encompassing a spectrum from non-alcoholic fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which can progress to cirrhosis. It has recently been recognised that NAFLD also occurs in individuals who are not obese, especially in Asian populations. In these patients, NAFLD manifests at lower overall body mass index thresholds in the presence of increased visceral adipose tissue. Currently, the principles of clinical management are similar to those in obese individuals, although, in specific regions and clinical situations, unique aetiologies of NAFLD must be treated specifically.

Publication types

  • Review