Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: is bariatric surgery the answer?
As the worldwide obesity epidemic continues to increase, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and specifically non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) will become increasingly prominent. NASH will surpass chronic hepatitis C infection as the primary indication for orthotopic liver transplantation in the near future. With the evolution of surgical techniques, bariatric surgery is currently recognized as the most effective method for achieving sustained weight loss and reversing numerous comorbidities in severely obese individuals. This review focuses on the potential risks and benefits of bariatric surgery in subjects with NAFLD and explores its role in the management of NASH in the obese patient.
Pillai
Anjana A
AA
Department of Transplant Surgery, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 675 N. St. Clair Avenue, Galter 17-200, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Rinella
Mary E
ME
D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome