Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: risk factors and diagnosis. (October 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adams, Leon A; Feldstein, Ariel E
• Is Part Of: Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology. Volume 4:Number 5(2010)
• Page Start: 623
• Page End: 635
• Publication Date: 2010-10
• Subjects: cirrhosis -- cytokeratin-18 -- diabetes -- insulin resistance -- liver biopsy -- nonalcoholic steatohepatitis -- obesity; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.3
• DOI: 10.1586/egh.10.56
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-4124

Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents the progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with greater potential to lead to liver-related morbidity and mortality. Diagnosing NASH mandates more intensive clinical management and consideration for clinical trials. Currently, the diagnosis of NASH requires a liver biopsy, which is invasive, with drawbacks in sampling and interpretation error. Clinical risk factors for NASH include diabetes and the metabolic syndrome; however, these are not sufficiently predictive of the condition by themselves. Routine liver aminotransaminase levels are not reliable; however, novel plasma hepatocyte apoptosis markers, either alone or in combination with clinical risk factors, are potential noninvasive diagnostic tools for the future.