Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is among the most frequent etiologies of cirrhosis worldwide,and it is associated with features of metabolic syndrome;the key factor influencing its prognosis is the progression...Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is among the most frequent etiologies of cirrhosis worldwide,and it is associated with features of metabolic syndrome;the key factor influencing its prognosis is the progression of liver fibrosis.This review aimed to propose a practical and stepwise approach to the evaluation and management of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD,analyzing the currently available literature.In the assessment of NAFLD patients,it is important to identify clinical,genetic,and environmental determinants of fibrosis development and its progression.To properly detect fibrosis,it is important to take into account the available methods and their supporting scientific evidence to guide the approach and the sequential selection of the best available biochemical scores,followed by a complementary imaging study(transient elastography,magnetic resonance elastography or acoustic radiation force impulse)and finally a liver biopsy,when needed.To help with the selection of the most appropriate method a Fagan′s nomogram analysis is provided in this review,describing the diagnostic yield of each method and their post-test probability of detecting liver fibrosis.Finally,treatment should always include diet and exercise,as well as controlling the components of the metabolic syndrome,+/-vitamin E,considering the presence of sleep apnea,and when available,allocate those patients with advanced fibrosis or high risk of progression into clinical trials.The final end of this approach should be to establish an opportune diagnosis and treatment of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD,aiming to decrease/stop its progression and improve their prognosis.展开更多
Abusive alcohol intake currently ranks as a major cause of liver disease, and is associated with significant mortality worldwide. Alcoholic liver disease(ALD) generically defines liver abnormalities ranging from liver...Abusive alcohol intake currently ranks as a major cause of liver disease, and is associated with significant mortality worldwide. Alcoholic liver disease(ALD) generically defines liver abnormalities ranging from liver steatosis to the end-stages of disease such as liver cirrhosis. Information regarding the precise incidence and prevalence of ALD is still limited by a lack of large population-based studies and by the absence of large systematic reviews of all epidemiological data available. However, existing collected data show an overall increase in the number of alcohol abusers and alcoholrelated liver disease. The burden exerted on medical systems worldwide is significant, with hospitalization and management costs rising constantly over the years. A great number of all cirrhosis-related deaths in Europe and a significant percentage worldwide areassociated with alcohol consumption. The main possible risk factors for ALD are the amount and duration of alcohol abuse, patterns of drinking and the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. However, ALD does not progress to cirrhosis in all patients, therefore a series of additional factors are implicated. Even though insufficiently studied, genetic factors are generally regarded as highly important, and the presence of comorbidities and dietary habits seem to play a role in disease onset and progression. This lack of clear pathophysiological data further translates in the absence of definite treatment for ALD and shall prove challenging in the coming years. In this article, we aimed to briefly review epidemiologic data on the burden of ALD, risk factors, clinical and nosographic as well as therapeutic aspects of this disease. Without attempting to be exhaustive, this short topic highlight emphasizes each point and may serve as a general guidance tool in the complicated literature related to ALD.展开更多
文摘Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is among the most frequent etiologies of cirrhosis worldwide,and it is associated with features of metabolic syndrome;the key factor influencing its prognosis is the progression of liver fibrosis.This review aimed to propose a practical and stepwise approach to the evaluation and management of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD,analyzing the currently available literature.In the assessment of NAFLD patients,it is important to identify clinical,genetic,and environmental determinants of fibrosis development and its progression.To properly detect fibrosis,it is important to take into account the available methods and their supporting scientific evidence to guide the approach and the sequential selection of the best available biochemical scores,followed by a complementary imaging study(transient elastography,magnetic resonance elastography or acoustic radiation force impulse)and finally a liver biopsy,when needed.To help with the selection of the most appropriate method a Fagan′s nomogram analysis is provided in this review,describing the diagnostic yield of each method and their post-test probability of detecting liver fibrosis.Finally,treatment should always include diet and exercise,as well as controlling the components of the metabolic syndrome,+/-vitamin E,considering the presence of sleep apnea,and when available,allocate those patients with advanced fibrosis or high risk of progression into clinical trials.The final end of this approach should be to establish an opportune diagnosis and treatment of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD,aiming to decrease/stop its progression and improve their prognosis.
文摘Abusive alcohol intake currently ranks as a major cause of liver disease, and is associated with significant mortality worldwide. Alcoholic liver disease(ALD) generically defines liver abnormalities ranging from liver steatosis to the end-stages of disease such as liver cirrhosis. Information regarding the precise incidence and prevalence of ALD is still limited by a lack of large population-based studies and by the absence of large systematic reviews of all epidemiological data available. However, existing collected data show an overall increase in the number of alcohol abusers and alcoholrelated liver disease. The burden exerted on medical systems worldwide is significant, with hospitalization and management costs rising constantly over the years. A great number of all cirrhosis-related deaths in Europe and a significant percentage worldwide areassociated with alcohol consumption. The main possible risk factors for ALD are the amount and duration of alcohol abuse, patterns of drinking and the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. However, ALD does not progress to cirrhosis in all patients, therefore a series of additional factors are implicated. Even though insufficiently studied, genetic factors are generally regarded as highly important, and the presence of comorbidities and dietary habits seem to play a role in disease onset and progression. This lack of clear pathophysiological data further translates in the absence of definite treatment for ALD and shall prove challenging in the coming years. In this article, we aimed to briefly review epidemiologic data on the burden of ALD, risk factors, clinical and nosographic as well as therapeutic aspects of this disease. Without attempting to be exhaustive, this short topic highlight emphasizes each point and may serve as a general guidance tool in the complicated literature related to ALD.
