Publication Date:
2013-12-05
Description:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. It comprises a spectrum ranging from bland steatosis or NAFL to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with or without fibrosis. There is a general consensus that patients with NAFLD have a very slow disease progression (if any). By contrast, patients with NASH can exhibit histological progression and can develop fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Parenchymal inflammation is an important determinant of the severity and progression of the disease. Increased fatty acid flux to the liver, from dietary absorption and from the adipose tissue, owing to insulin resistance, is a main contributor to increased hepatic lipid content. In addition, increased de novo lipogenesis, impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation or decreased export of very low density lipoprotein triglyceride all play a part. Ligand-activated nuclear receptors control several key steps in lipid metabolism as well as inflammation and fibrogenesis and thus...
Print ISSN:
0017-5749
Electronic ISSN:
1468-3288
Topics:
Medicine
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