Via practica 5/2016

The management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease in the world. The latest meta-analyses have confirmed a 25 percent worldwide prevalence. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an aggressive form of NAFLD, often progressing to liver cirrhosis and increasing the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD/NASH is viewed as the presentation of liver manifestations of the metabolic syndrome, potentially playing a key role in the pathogenesis of systemic atherosclerosis. Because of the steeply rising prevalence and incidence of NAFLD/NASH, with subsequent complex medical sequel and it`s economic burden on healthcare, this disease has become a priority to be reckoned with on the world healthcare forum.

Keywords: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, metabolic syndrome, liver cirrhosis