scholarly journals Steatohepatitis Is Not Associated with an Increased Risk for Fibrosis Progression in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Hagström ◽  
Olof Elfwén ◽  
Rolf Hultcrantz ◽  
Per Stål

Introduction. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease globally. The majority of NAFLD patients have fatty liver without inflammation (nonalcoholic fatty liver, NAFL), whereas a minority develop steatohepatitis (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH). Only NASH and not NAFL has been considered to increase the risk for fibrosis progression. The present study investigates risk factors for fibrosis progression in patients with NAFLD, and if fibrosis progression associates with subsequent mortality. Material and Methods. All patients with at least two liver biopsies more than a year apart at our hospital between 1971 and 2016 were identified. Data on plausible risk factors for fibrosis progression were collected. Biopsies were scored for the presence of NASH and fibrosis stage. Regression models were used to investigate the association between baseline NASH and fibrosis progression and fibrosis progression with future mortality. Results. 60 patients had undergone serial biopsies (median interval between biopsies 8.4 years, range 1–33 years), with 26 patients (43%) having fibrosis progression. We found no significant risk factors for progression of fibrosis except time between biopsies. Among patients with fibrosis progression, 54% had NAFL and 46% had NASH at baseline. There was a trend for an association between fibrosis progression per se and increased mortality (hazard ratio 2.83, 95% CI 1.0–8.1, p=0.05). Conclusions. In this study on NAFLD, baseline steatohepatitis was not associated with an increased risk for fibrosis progression. NAFLD patients without steatohepatitis may develop progressive fibrosis, and those with progressive fibrosis appear to have a higher mortality risk irrespective of baseline NASH status.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Orlić ◽  
I. Mikolasevic ◽  
Z. Bagic ◽  
S. Racki ◽  
D. Stimac ◽  
...  

Research in recent years has led to the recognition of the importance of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its relationship to the metabolic syndrome (MS). This has led to a growing interest in the potential prognostic value of NAFLD for adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcome. On the other hand, searching for new risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression is very important. Growing evidence suggests that the MS is an important factor in the pathogenesis of CKD. The best confirmation of this pathogenic link is hypertensive and diabetic nephropathy as the main causes of CKD. Furthermore, the possible link between NAFLD and CKD has also attracted research interest and recent data suggest an association between these two conditions. These findings have fuelled concerns that NAFLD may be a new and added risk factor for the development and progression of CKD. NAFLD and CKD share some important cardiometabolic risk factors and possible common pathophysiological mechanisms, and both are linked to an increased risk of incident CVD events. Therefore, common factors underlying the pathogenesis of NAFLD and CKD may be insulin resistance, oxidative stress, activation of rennin-angiotensin system, and inappropriate secretion of inflammatory cytokines by steatotic and inflamed liver.


Author(s):  
Karn Wijarnpreecha ◽  
Elizabeth S Aby ◽  
Aijaz Ahmed ◽  
Donghee Kim

Background and Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and sarcopenic obesity share several pathophysiologic backgrounds. No prior studies have determined a plausible association between sarcopenic obesity and NAFLD and NAFLD-associated fibrosis. We aim to investigate the association between sarcopenic obesity and NAFLD, and NAFLD-associated fibrosis detected by transient elastography. Methods: In a cross-sectional study from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1,925 participants were identified. NAFLD was defined by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) scores and significant fibrosis (≥F2)/cirrhosis by liver stiffness measurements on transient elastography. Sarcopenic obesity was defined by appendicular lean mass and body fat. Results: Individuals with sarcopenic obesity had a significantly higher odds of having NAFLD [CAP score ≥263 dB/m, odds ratio (OR): 2.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.82-4.57, and CAP score ≥285, OR: 3.71, 95%CI: 2.24-6.14] after adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. The association remained statistically significant after adjustment for socioeconomic status, lifestyle and behavioral risk factors, and metabolic conditions (CAP score ≥263, OR: 2.61, 95%CI: 1.51-4.50, and CAP score ≥285, OR: 3.31, 95%CI: 1.85-5.96). Sarcopenic obesity was also associated with higher odds of having NAFLD-associated significant fibrosis (OR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.03-4.80) in the multivariate model. While those with sarcopenic obesity had a higher prevalence of NAFLD-associated cirrhosis, this association did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Sarcopenic obesity was independently associated with an increased risk of NAFLD and NAFLD- associated significant fibrosis independent of well-defined risk factors. Targeted interventions to improve sarcopenic obesity may reduce the risk of NAFLD and NAFLD-associated siginificant fibrosis.


Author(s):  
Guangmin Zuo ◽  
Liping Xuan ◽  
Zhuojun Xin ◽  
Yu Xu ◽  
Jieli Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Little is known about the link between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) evolution and incident chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective We aim to assess the associations of NALFD status changes and NAFLD fibrosis progression with the risk of incident CKD. Methods We conducted a community-based prospective study including participants aged 40 years or older and free of CKD at baseline in 2010, and followed up after a mean of 4.4 years. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography. NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) was used to evaluate fibrosis stage and progression. CKD was defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). All the measurements were performed at baseline and follow-up examination. Results Among 4,042 participants with four NAFLD status change groups, incident NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of incident CKD (Odds Ratio, OR = 1.44, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.003 - 2.06; P = 0.048) compared to non-NAFLD after adjustments for the confounders including evolution of diabetes, hypertension and obesity in addition to the baseline levels. However, the risk of incident CKD was not significantly different between NAFLD resolution and persistent NAFLD. Among 534 participants in persistent NAFLD group, those with fibrosis progression from low NFS to intermediate or high NFS was associated with a significantly increased risk of incident CKD compared to those with fibrosis stable in low NFS (OR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.22 - 6.56; P = 0.016). Conclusions NAFLD development and fibrosis progression are associated with increased risk of incident CKD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
So-Ryoung Lee ◽  
Kyung-Do Han ◽  
Eue-Keun Choi ◽  
Seil Oh ◽  
Gregory Y. H. Lip

AbstractWe evaluated the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and incident atrial fibrillation (AF) and analyzed the impact of NAFLD on AF risk in relation to body mass index (BMI). A total of 8,048,055 subjects without significant liver disease who were available fatty liver index (FLI) values were included. Subjects were categorized into 3 groups based on FLI: < 30, 30 to < 60, and ≥ 60. During a median 8-year of follow-up, 534,442 subjects were newly diagnosed as AF (8.27 per 1000 person-years). Higher FLI was associated with an increased risk of AF (hazard ratio [HR] 1.053, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.046–1.060 in 30 ≤ FLI < 60, and HR 1.115, 95% CI 1.106–1.125 in FLI ≥ 60). In underweight subjects (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), higher FLI raised the risk of AF (by 1.6-fold in 30 ≤ FLI < 60 and by twofold in FLI ≥ 60). In normal- and overweight subjects, higher FLI was associated with an increased risk of AF, but the HRs were attenuated. In obese subjects, higher FLI was not associated with higher risk of AF. NAFLD as assessed by FLI was independently associated with an increased risk of AF in nonobese subjects with BMI < 25 kg/m2. The impact of NAFLD on AF risk was accentuated in lean subjects with underweight.


Author(s):  
Søren Møller ◽  
Nina Kimer ◽  
Thit Kronborg ◽  
Josephine Grandt ◽  
Jens Dahlgaard Hove ◽  
...  

AbstractNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) denotes a condition with excess fat in the liver. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing, averaging > 25% of the Western population. In 25% of the patients, NAFLD progresses to its more severe form: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and >25% of these progress to cirrhosis following activation of inflammatory and fibrotic processes. NAFLD is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome and represents a considerable and increasing health burden. In the near future, NAFLD cirrhosis is expected to be the most common cause for liver transplantation. NAFLD patients have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease as well as liver-related morbidity. In addition, hepatic steatosis itself appears to represent an independent cardiovascular risk factor. In the present review, we provide an overview of the overlapping mechanisms and prevalence of NAFLD and cardiovascular disease.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Limin Wei ◽  
Xin Cheng ◽  
Yulong Luo ◽  
Rongxuan Yang ◽  
Zitong Lei ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Although recent evidence suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of diabetes, the association between lean NAFLD and incident diabetes is unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether lean NAFLD and overweight/obese NAFLD have similar or dissimilar effects on the risk of new-onset diabetes.Methods: A longitudinal study was performed in 14,482 euglycemic adults who participated in a health check-up program. Fatty liver was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. The outcome of interest was incident diabetes.Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to calculate HRs with 95% CIs for future diabetes risk.Results: During the median 6.0 years of follow-up, 356 cases of diabetes occurred. Despite a low probability of hepatic fibrosis indicated by the BAAT score, lean NAFLD was positively associated with an increased risk of diabetes. Moreover, after adjusting for sociodemographic and potential confounders, the fullyadjusted HRs (95% CIs) for incident diabetes between lean NAFLD and overweight/obese NAFLD to the reference (lean without NAFLD) were 2.58 (95% CI 1.68 to 3.97) and 2.52 (95% CI 1.79 to 3.55), respectively. In post hoc analysis, the HR (95% CI) for diabetes comparing lean NAFLD to obese/overweight NAFLD was 1.02 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.54, p = 0.909). The results were robust to challenges in multiple subgroup analyses and appeared to be more pronounced for female participants (p for interaction = 0.005).Conclusions: In this cohort study, lean patients with NAFLD had a risk of incident type 2 diabetes similar to that of overweight/obese ones with NAFLD. These findings suggest that lean NAFLD is not a benign condition. Further investigations are needed to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis and natural history of NAFLD in lean subjects.


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