Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease,
with a worldwide prevalence of 25%. Considering the ongoing obesity epidemic, the
rise in diabetes, and other features of metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of NAFLD
along with the proportion of those with advanced liver disease is expected to increase
continuously.
NAFLD/NASH patients have a high comorbidity burden; those with advanced liver
disease have significantly higher costs, especially for patients requiring hospitalization.
Early identification and effective management is needed to minimize the disease
progression and costs.
Experts reached a consensus that NAFLD does not reflect current knowledge, and
metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease “MAFLD” was suggested as a
more appropriate overarching term.
Until now the biggest unmet need is a performant biomarker that can diagnose and
stage NASH to replace the need for liver biopsy. Such a biomarker, will increase the
ability to identify patients at risk, monitor disease progression, and response to the
therapy.
Treatments need a multidisciplinary approach and include: drugs targeting intake and
disposal energy, lipotoxic liver injury, inflammation and fibrogenesis that lead to
cirrhosis.
Keywords: Biomarkers, Diabetes Mellitus, Disease Progression, Liver Biopsy, Liver Cirrhosis, Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Obesity.
