title: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Review: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes.
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of abnormal serum aminotransferase levels in both developed and developing countries. Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a subset of NAFLD, are at risk for progressive liver disease and in need of effective treatment options. A practical approach may be pursued by identifying patients with NAFLD with the highest likelihood for histologic evidence of NASH. Despite decades of clinical trials, no single treatment can be recommended to all patients with NASH. Importantly, there is no evidence that pioglitazone or vitamin E improves fibrosis. Bariatric surgeries may improve hepatic histology in morbidly obese patients with NASH, although randomized clinical trials are lacking. Currently, NASH is the second leading etiology of liver disease among adults awaiting liver transplantation in the United States. The primary and secondary prevention of NAFLD may require aggressive strategies for managing obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Liver Transplant Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Aijaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital Campus, Oakland, California.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Electronic address: Stephen.a.harrison.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; D000637:Transaminases; D000077205:Pioglitazone
keywords: Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Metabolic Syndrome; Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)