title: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: diagnosis and investigation.
abstract: Given the worldwide increase in obesity and diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease. NAFLD is associated with increased hepatic and extrahepatic morbidity and mortality, mainly related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with fibrosis. An early diagnosis in the high-risk population with features of insulin resistance and a proper identification of those patients with progressive liver disease are needed. Practicing physicians dealing with NAFLD should be aware of and should carefully evaluate the extended spectrum of NAFLD-related extrahepatic diseases, which significantly affects liver- and non-liver-related prognosis. This clinical practice-oriented article reviews the diagnostic methods and staging strategies for NAFLD and proposes an investigational algorithm for a global evaluation of NAFLD patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nascimbeni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: Vlad
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ratziu
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008403:Mass Screening; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology