title: The Wide and Complex Field of NAFLD Biomarker Research: Trends.
abstract: Background. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is now acknowledged as a complex public health issue linked to sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and related disorders like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Aims. We aimed to retrieve its trends out of the huge amount of published data. Therefore, we conducted an extensive literature search to identify possible biomarker and/or biomarker combinations by retrospectively assessing and evaluating common and novel biomarkers to predict progression and prognosis of obesity related liver diseases. Methodology. We analyzed finally 62 articles accounting for 157 cohorts and 45,288 subjects. Results. Despite the various approaches, most cohorts were considerably small and rarely comparable. Also, we found that the same standard parameters were measured rather than novel biomarkers. Diagnostics approaches appeared incomparable. Conclusions. Further collaborative investigations on harmonizing ways of data acquisition and identifying such biomarkers for clinical use are necessary to yield sufficient significant results of potential biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: BioPersMed/Biobank Graz, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 3.1, Graz, 8010 Styria, Austria.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2972-8375
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wichro
authors.affiliation: BioPersMed/Biobank Graz, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 3.1, Graz, 8010 Styria, Austria.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Macheiner
authors.affiliation: Siemens AG Austria, Corporate Technology, Biosensors, Strassganger Strasse 315, Graz, 8045 Styria, Austria.
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5384-2242
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Siemens AG Austria, Corporate Technology, Biosensors, Strassganger Strasse 315, Graz, 8045 Styria, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kavsek
authors.affiliation: BioPersMed/Biobank Graz, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 3.1, Graz, 8010 Styria, Austria.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sargsyan