title: Are statins 'IDEAL' for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease and cause of elevated serum liver enzyme activities in the developed world. Obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidaemia, common components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), are frequently associated with NAFLD; 75-100% of patients with MetS or DM have NAFLD. NAFLD is characterized by hepatic triglyceride (TG) infiltration in the absence of alcohol abuse or chronic liver disease. NAFLD includes a spectrum of conditions varying from steatosis to steatosis with inflammation [steatohepatitis (NASH)], necrosis, fibrosis or cirrhosis that rarely progresses to hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD and NASH are the hepatic manifestations of MetS and are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Most NAFLD/NASH patients die from CVD rather than from liver disease. There is no universally accepted treatment for NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital , Thessaloniki , Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Athyros
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsiki
authors.forename: Asterios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
mesh_terms: D000069059:Atorvastatin; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D000069059:Atorvastatin