Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)--a novel common aspect of the metabolic syndrome.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as one of the most common liver disorders claiming the urgent attention of both medical professionals and the public sphere because of the imminent epidemic of advanced liver injury that appendages epidemic of obesity. Recent research reveals simple triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes (i.e., liver steatosis) frequently becoming complicated by inflammation (i.e., non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH) that may progress into more advanced stages of the disease including cirrhosis or, eventually, hepatocellular carcinoma. The exact mechanisms of the progression of NAFLD into overt NASH and advanced disease stages are largely unknown. There is urgent need in terms of both intensive research pursuits and effective practical measures to deal with this common threat.
Bogdanova
Katerina
K
Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic. kapalinakb@centurm.cz
Poczatkova
Hana
H
Uherkova
Lenka
L
Riegrova
Dagmar
D
Rypka
Miroslav
M
Feher
Janos
J
Marchesini
Giulio
G
Vesely
Jaroslav
J
D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*