scholarly journals MAFLD AND NAFLD: is there the need for redefining the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality?

Author(s):  
Rosa Lombardi ◽  
Annalisa Cespiati ◽  
Paolo Francione ◽  
Felice Cinque ◽  
Silvia Fargion ◽  
...  

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and is characterized by a high burden of metabolic alterations. It exposes patients to increased morbidity and mortality, mostly driven by cardiovascular (CV) complications. Despite its large use, the nomenclature NAFLD has some limitations, due to the exclusion of patients with hepatic fat and concomitant other liver diseases or moderate alcohol consumption possibly contributing to hepatic damage. Therefore, a new and more inclusive definition of fatty liver has recently been proposed, namely metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). It comprises patients with hepatic steatosis and associated metabolic comorbidities, without exclusion of other liver diseases. As for the nature of the new definition of MAFLD, it could be speculated that an increased risk of cardiovascular complications should be expected. Therefore, our review aims at answering the question about possible differences in cardiovascular risk and mortality in patients with NAFLD compared to MAFLD. We selected 8 studies out of 1130 by searching in the PubMed database. Data from literature seem to report an increased risk of CV events and mortality in patients affected by MAFLD compared to NAFLD, possibly due to the metabolic burden and coexistence of other liver diseases typical of MAFLD. However, further prospective studies are warranted to confirm this preliminary hypothesis.

2009 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 397-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Byrne

NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) represents a spectrum of fatty liver diseases associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The spectrum of fatty liver diseases comprises simple steatosis, steatosis with inflammation [i.e. NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)], fatty liver disease with inflammation and fibrosis (severe NASH) and cirrhosis. The molecular mechanisms contributing to NASH are the subject of considerable investigation, as a better understanding of the pathogenesis of NASH will lead to novel therapies for a condition that hitherto remains difficult to treat. In the present issue of Clinical Science, Piguet and co-workers have investigated the effects of hypoxia in the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10)-deficient mouse, a mouse model that develops NAFLD. The authors show that a short period (7 days) of exposure to hypoxia aggravates the NAFLD phenotype, causing changes in the liver that are in keeping with NASH with increased lipogenesis and inflammation.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constanze Hoebinger ◽  
Dragana Rajcic ◽  
Tim Hendrikx

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from simple steatosis to inflammatory steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, continues to rise, making it one of the major chronic liver diseases and indications for liver transplantation worldwide. The pathological processes underlying NAFLD not only affect the liver but are also likely to have systemic effects. In fact, growing evidence indicates that patients with NAFLD are at increased risk for developing atherosclerosis. Indeed, cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of mortality in NAFLD patients. Here, we aim to address common pathophysiological molecular pathways involved in chronic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. In particular, we focus on the role of oxidized lipids and the formation of oxidation-specific epitopes, which are important targets of host immunity. Acting as metabolic danger signals, they drive pro-inflammatory processes and thus contribute to disease progression. Finally, we summarize encouraging studies indicating that oxidized lipids are promising immunological targets to improve intervention strategies for NAFLD and potentially limit the risk of developing atherosclerosis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Freitas ◽  
Vítor Macedo Silva ◽  
Sofia Xavier ◽  
Joana Magalhes ◽  
Carla Marinho ◽  
...  

Introduction: Increasing evidence suggests an association between metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Timely prediction of early kidney dysfunction (EKD) is thus essential in this population, although a screening method is not stablished. We aimed to evaluate the role of transient elastography (TE) in predicting EKD in patients with MAFLD. Methods: Prospective cohort study that included patients with MAFLD scheduled for evaluation, between May/2019 and January/2020. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data, and TE parameters were obtained. EKD was defined as microalbuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio 30-300mg/g) and estimated glomerular filtration rate≥60mL/min/1.73m2. Significant liver fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM)≥8.2kPa. Results: Included 45 patients with MALFD, 53.3% female gender, mean age of 53.5±10.9years. EKD was found in 17.8% of patients. MAFLD patients with EKD were significantly more obese (body mass index≥30) (75.0% vs 32.4%,p=0.045) and had significantly higher LSM (8.5±4.1 vs 5.8±2.2kPa,p=0.01). After adjustment of potential confounders for EKD the presence of liver fibrosis, remained a significant predictor of EKD, being associated with a 14.3-fold increased risk of EKD (p=0.04). The optimal cutoff value of LSM to predict EKD was 6.1kPa (sensitivity:85.7%; specificity:67.6%). Conclusion: Significant liver fibrosis is associated with a significant increased risk of EKD in patients with MAFLD, regardless of other comorbidities. Higher levels of LSM, particularly >6.1kPa, alert for timely identification of EKD and associated comorbidities, as well as their control, in order to prevent the development of CKD in the long term.


2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bernadette Moore

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common liver disease in both adults and children worldwide. As a disease spectrum, NAFLD may progress from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. An estimated 20–35% of the general population has steatosis, 10% of whom will develop the more progressive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis associated with markedly increased risk of cardiovascular- and liver-related mortality. Development of NAFLD is strongly linked to components of the metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes. The recognition that NAFLD is an independent risk factor for CVD is a major public health concern. There is a great need for a sensitive non-invasive test for the early detection and assessment of the stage of NAFLD that could also be used to monitor response to treatment. The cellular and molecular aetiology of NAFLD is multi-factorial; genetic polymorphisms influencing NAFLD have been identified and nutrition is a modifiable environmental factor influencing NAFLD progression. Weight loss through diet and exercise is the primary recommendation in the clinical management of NAFLD. The application of systems biology to the identification of NAFLD biomarkers and factors involved in NAFLD progression is an area of promising research.


Author(s):  
Nina Vodošek Hojs ◽  
Aftab Ala ◽  
Debasish Banerjee

Cardiovascular disease in patients with liver disease, previously uncommon, is rising because of an increasing incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and better survival of patients with viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C. Liver dysfunction alters the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many drugs, and hence careful use and dose adjustments are necessary. This chapter describes common cardiovascular conditions and the pharmacotherapy in patients with different liver diseases.


Author(s):  
Claudio Tana ◽  
Stefano Ballestri ◽  
Fabrizio Ricci ◽  
Angelo Di Vincenzo ◽  
Andrea Ticinesi ◽  
...  

New evidence suggests that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a strong multifaceted relationship with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, regardless of traditional risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Given the pandemic-level rise of NAFLD—in parallel with the increasing prevalence of obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome—and its association with poor cardiovascular outcomes, the question of how to manage NAFLD properly, in order to reduce the burden of associated incident cardiovascular events, is both timely and highly relevant. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the association between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease, and also to discuss possible clinical strategies for cardiovascular risk assessment, as well as the spectrum of available therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD and its downstream events.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Cemal Kemaloglu ◽  
Melek Didem Kemaloglu

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (c-imt) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and to determine whether NAFLD is an independent predictor for the progression of atherosclerosis.  Method: This is a prospective randomized controlled study. 103 NAFLD patients who have hepatosteatosis with grade II and above were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into NAFLD with metabolic syndrome (MS) and NAFLD without MS groups and compared with 50 healthy people. Basal demographic characteristics and C-imt of all patients and control group were measured.  Results: C-imt and carotid cross sectional area rates in the NAFLD groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. The mean and max. c-imt levels were significantly higher in the NAFLD group with metabolic syndrome (p<0,001). Homeostatic Model of Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were increased in the group with metabolic syndrome than those in the group without metabolic syndrome, with statistical significance (p<0.001). There was no difference in c-imt levels between HOMA-IR positive and negative groups (p=0.254) in patients with NAFLD and without metabolic syndrome. There was only a mild positive corelation between c-imt levels and high sensitive C-Reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in metabolic syndrome positive group (p=0.026 r=0.30).  Conclusion: NAFLD was a significant predictor to determine the increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 2215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza El Hadi ◽  
Angelo Di Vincenzo ◽  
Roberto Vettor ◽  
Marco Rossato

With the progressive epidemics of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in adults and children. The increasing prevalence and incidence of NAFLD with advanced fibrosis is concerning because patients appear to experience higher non-liver-related morbidity and mortality than the general population. Recent clinical evidence suggests that NAFLD is directly associated with an increased risk of cardio-metabolic disorders. This mini review describes briefly the current understanding of the pathogenesis of NAFLD, summarizing the link between NAFLD and cardio-metabolic complications, focusing mainly upon ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, it describes briefly the current understanding of the pathogenesis of NAFLD.


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