Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an update

Abstract

Purpose of review: We discuss two recent controversial issues in the research field of fatty liver: the proposal to replace nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the suggestion to extend to primary care the noninvasive testing for liver fibrosis that was developed for secondary care.

Recent findings: There is preliminary evidence that MAFLD-only patients are at greater risk of fibrosis than NAFLD-only patients. There are a large number of false positives associated with the downshift of noninvasive testing for liver fibrosis from secondary to primary care.

Summary: More studies are needed to compare the MAFLD and NAFLD operational definitions. Noninvasive testing of liver fibrosis also needs further evaluation before it can be used in primary care or in the general population.