title: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: defining a common problem.
abstract: Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), with prevalence of 10-51% in general population involving all ages, is the major cause of elevation of ALT and a common finding by ultrasound screening and may range from simple steatosis, to Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and its clinical consequences as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review will be analyse factors influencing the onset of the disease. NAFLD, primarly associated with insulin resistance, is in fact considered the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome: a cluster of disorder that includes obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, arteriosclerosis and hypertension. The increased incidence and prevalence of obesity and diabetes may explain growing interest in NAFLD. Racial, ethnic, enviromental and behaviour models are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miele
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forgione
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grieco
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase