title: EASL-EASD-EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: is universal screening appropriate?
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is very common in people with type 2 diabetes and although estimates for the prevalence NAFLD vary according to age, obesity and ethnicity, some studies have indicated that up to 75% of patients with type 2 diabetes may be affected. During the last 15 years there has been a vast amount of research into understanding the natural history, aetiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD; and now there is a better understanding of the strengths and limitations of diagnostic tests for NAFLD, the influence of lifestyle changes and the effects of potential treatments. With this advance in knowledge, it is apposite that a number of organisations have started to develop guidelines for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD. Given the high proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes who are affected by this liver condition, it is now important to consider how any guideline will affect the care, diagnosis and treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. It is to the credit of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) that guidelines for NAFLD have been produced (Diabetologia DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3902-y ) and a consensus achieved between these three organisations. The purpose of this commentary is to discuss briefly the EASL-EASD-EASO clinical practice guidelines with a focus on their relevance for clinicians caring for patients with type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, IDS Building, MP 887, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. cdtb@soton.ac.uk.|Southampton National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK. cdtb@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Targher
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery
keywords: ELF; Enhanced liver fibrosis; Guideline; NAFL; NAFLD diagnosis; NASH; Non-alcoholic fatty liver; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; Pioglitazone; Steatosis; Treatment; Type 2 diabetes