title: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and statins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent cause of elevated transaminase levels and affects approximately one third of the general population. Patients with NAFLD are at increased risk for cardiovascular events, which represent the leading cause of death in this population. We discuss the safety and efficacy of statins in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the most recent literature on the safety of statins in patients with NAFLD and on their effects on liver histology and cardiovascular events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It appears that statins can be safely administered to patients with NAFLD, including those with elevated transaminase levels (<3 times the upper limit of normal). Post-hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials also suggest that statins might reduce cardiovascular morbidity in this population. On the other hand, there are few and controversial data on the effects of statins on liver histology in patients with NAFLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statins appear to be safe and might also reduce cardiovascular events in patients with NAFLD. Ongoing and future studies will clarify whether statins might also have a role in the treatment of NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: First Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: ktziomalos@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Athyros
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paschos
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Asterios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D009017:Morbidity; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Fatty liver; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Statins