title: [Treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease].
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises benign steatosis and steatohepatitis (NASH) and may lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its prevalence is estimated to be 20% in the general population and 50-100% in patients with overweight and obesity. In about 15-30% of patients steatosis evolves to NASH which can only be diagnosed by means of a liver biopsy. NAFLD may be described as the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome and is a consequence of the Western lifestyle. The pathogenesis is multifactorial; oxidative stress plays a crucial role in maintaining inflammation and progressive fibrosis. Lifestyle modification with weight loss and increased physical activity is the cornerstone of the treatment, which should take place in a multidisciplinary setting. To date, no specific registered drug for NAFLD treatment is available. Supportive drug therapy is mainly focused on aspects of the metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Interne geneeskunde, Divisie maag-, darm-, leverziekten, Maastricht, the Netherlands. gh.koek@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Ger H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Koek
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*