scholarly journals The Global Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Epidemic: What a Radiologist Needs to Know

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Pereira ◽  
Jason Salsamendi ◽  
Javier Casillas

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum of disorders from a benign steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metabolic syndrome, mainly obesity, plays an important role, both as an independent risk factor and in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. With the progressive epidemics of obesity and diabetes mellitus, the prevalence of NAFLD and its associated complications is expected to increase dramatically. Therapeutic strategies for treating NAFLD and metabolic syndrome, particularly obesity, are continuously being refined. Their goal is the prevention of NAFLD by the management of risk factors, prevention of progression of the disease, as well as management of complications, ultimately preventing morbidity and mortality. Optimal management of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome requires a multidisciplinary collaboration between the government as well as the health system including the nutritionist, primary care physician, radiologist, hepatologist, oncologist, and transplant surgeon. An awareness of the clinical presentation, risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management is of paramount importance to a radiologist, both from the clinical perspective as well as from the imaging standpoint. With expertise in imaging modalities as well as minimally invasive percutaneous endovascular therapies, radiologists play an essential role in the comprehensive management, which is highlighted in this article, with cases from our practice. We also briefly discuss transarterial embolization of the left gastric artery (LGA), a novel method that promises to have an enormous potential in the minimally invasive management of obesity, with details of a case from our practice.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Stefan Chiriac ◽  
Carol Stanciu ◽  
Irina Girleanu ◽  
Camelia Cojocariu ◽  
Catalin Sfarti ◽  
...  

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the most frequent cause of liver disease worldwide, comprising a plethora of conditions, ranging from steatosis to end-stage liver disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been associated with NAFLD and CVD-related events represent the main cause of death in patients with NAFLD, surpassing liver-related mortality. This association is not surprising as NAFLD has been considered a part of the metabolic syndrome and has been related to numerous CVD risk factors, namely, insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, both NAFLD and CVD present similar pathophysiological mechanisms, such as increased visceral adiposity, altered lipid metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation that could explain their association. Whether NAFLD increases the risk for CVD or these diagnostic entities represent distinct manifestations of the metabolic syndrome has not yet been clarified. This review focuses on the relation between NAFLD and the spectrum of CVD, considering the pathophysiological mechanisms, risk factors, current evidence, and future directions.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud S Al Rifai ◽  
Michael J Blaha ◽  
Roger S Blumenthal ◽  
Michael G Silverman ◽  
Khurram Nasir ◽  
...  

Introduction: We sought to characterize the association of three adiposity-related risk factors - obesity, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - with the outcomes of increased inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 3976 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) with adequate CT imaging to diagnose NAFLD. For the study exposures, obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 , metabolic syndrome by ATP III criteria, and NAFLD using non-contrast cardiac CT and a liver/spleen attenuation ratio (L/S) 0. In order to assess for a possible gradient-response, adjusted logistic regression was used to examine the association of a stepwise increase in the number of three adiposity-related risk factors with increased inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis. Additional models were conducted stratifying by gender or ethnicity. Results: Mean age of participants was 63 years, 45% were male, 37% were white, 10% Chinese, 30% African American, and 23% Hispanic. NAFLD was associated with an odds ratio for high hs-CRP and CAC>0 of 1.54 (1.27-1.87) and 1.41 (1.15-1.73), respectively, adjusting for obesity, metabolic syndrome and traditional risk factors. There was a positive interaction between female gender and NAFLD in the association with high hs-CRP (p=0.01). There was no interaction by race. Importantly, with increasing number of adiposity-related risk factors, the odds ratios of high hs-CRP and CAC>0 increased in a graded fashion, suggesting a collective association (Figure). Conclusion: There is an association between three adiposity-related risk factors - obesity, metabolic syndrome, and NAFLD - with both increased inflammation and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Anita Mawuse Setroame ◽  
Patrick Kormla Affrim ◽  
Albert Abaka-Yawson ◽  
Precious Kwablah Kwadzokpui ◽  
Felicia Eyram Adrah ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. MetS-affected individuals stand the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and increased cardiovascular mortality while NAFLD results in advanced liver diseases, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, if not diagnosed and treated on time. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of MetS and NAFLD among premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Ho Municipality. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 185 participants: 88 premenopausal and 97 postmenopausal women obtaining healthcare service from Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) and Ho Municipal Hospital from November 2018 to January 2020. Questionnaires were administered, and direct anthropometric measurements were taken. Blood samples were collected between 8:00 am and 10:00 am after overnight fast (12 to 18 hours; ≥8 hours) to assess fasting blood glucose, fasting lipids, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) concentrations at HTH laboratory using standard measuring procedures. This study in diagnosing metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease employed the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria and the Bedogni fatty liver index algorithm, respectively. Results. The overall prevalence of MetS and NAFLD was 24.86% and 40.00% using NCEP-ATPIII and Bedogni fatty liver index algorithm, respectively. The prevalence of MetS and NAFLD among postmenopausal women was 32.99% and 49.48%, respectively, higher than 15.91% and 29.55%, respectively, observed among premenopausal women. The most prevalent MetS component among the study population was abdominal obesity (68.65%) which was significantly higher among the postmenopausal women (82.47%) than premenopausal women (53.41%) (<0.001). Hyperglycemia and hypertension were the major significant risk factors for developing MetS among premenopausal women whereas high triglyceride was the highest risk factor found among the postmenopausal women. Obesity and abdominal obesity were the most likely risk factors for developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Comorbidities of MetS and NAFLD were significant risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (OR=5.2, 95%CI=2.2-12.4; p<0.001). Conclusion. This study established a significant association between coronary artery disease and comorbidities of MetS and NAFLD among the studied participants. Both conditions were found to be more prevalent among postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women. Abdominal obesity was the most prevalent MetS component among the population. Women should be monitored for the two conditions and be educated on adopting healthy lifestyles to minimize the incidence of these conditions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyun Lu ◽  
Hong Liu ◽  
Fang Hu ◽  
Lingling Zou ◽  
Shunkui Luo ◽  
...  

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely correlated with insulin resistance and several metabolic syndrome features, but whether it could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease remains undefined. To assess the association between NAFLD and the risk of cardiovascular outcomes, we systematically searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database (1947 to October 2012) by using Medical Subject Heading search terms and a standardized protocol. Randomized controlled trials, case-control, and prospective studies carried out in human adults, in which the unadjusted and multivariate adjusted odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for cardiovascular disease with NAFLD were reported. The search yielded 4 cross-sectional studies and 2 prospective cohort studies including 7,042 participants. The pooled effects estimate showed that NAFLD was a predictor of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio 1.88, 95% CI, 1.68 to 2.01; ). The random effects summary estimate indicated that NAFLD retained a significant association with cardiovascular outcomes independent of conventional risk factors after adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors (odds ratio 1.50, 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.87; ). These results indicate that NAFLD is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular disease and may play a central role in the cardiovascular risk of metabolic syndrome.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed H. Ahmed ◽  
Salma Barakat ◽  
Ahmed O. Almobarak

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent in people with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes and is present in up to one-third of the general population. Evidence is now accumulating that NAFLD is associated with obesity and diabetes and may serve as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The possible mechanisms linking NAFLD and CVD include inflammation and oxidative stress, hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance, and direct impact of NAFLD on coronary arteries and left ventricular dysfunction. In addition, several studies suggest that NAFLD is associated with high risk of CVD and atherosclerosis such as carotid artery wall thickness and lower endothelial flow-mediated vasodilation independently of classical risk factors and components of the metabolic syndrome. It is not yet clear how treatment of NAFLD will modulate the risk of CVD. Furthermore, studies are urgently needed to establish (i) the pathophysiology of CVD with NAFLD and (ii) the benefit of early diagnosis and treatment of CVD in patients with NAFLD. In the absence of biochemical markers, it is crucial that screening and surveillance strategies are adopted in clinical practice in the growing number of patients with NAFLD and at risk of developing CVD. Importantly, the current evidence suggest that statins are safe and effective treatment for CVD in individuals with NAFLD.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei Nakajima

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are multidisciplinary liver diseases that often accompany type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, which are characterized by insulin resistance. Therefore, effective treatment of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome should target not only the cardiometabolic abnormalities, but also the associated liver disorders. In the last decade, it has been shown that metformin, thiazolidinediones, vitamin E, ezetimibe, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, and antiobesity drugs may improve hepatic pathophysiological disorders as well as clinical parameters. Accordingly, insulin sensitizers, antioxidative agents, Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) inhibitors, RAS blockers, and drugs that target the central nervous system may represent candidate pharmacotherapies for NAFLD and possibly NASH. However, the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of long-term treatment (potentially for many years) with these drugs have not been fully established. Furthermore, clinical trials have not comprehensively examined the efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs (i.e., statins, fibrates, and NPC1L1 inhibitors) for the treatment of NAFLD. Although clinical evidence for RAS blockers and incretin-based agents (GLP-1 analogs and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) is also lacking, these agents are promising in terms of their insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects without causing weight gain.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 516
Author(s):  
Tomomi Kogiso ◽  
Katsutoshi Tokushige

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and can develop into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The incidence of NAFLD-related HCC, which is accompanied by life-threatening complications, is increasing. Advanced fibrosis and lifestyle-related and metabolic comorbidities, especially obesity and diabetes mellitus, are associated with HCC development. However, HCC is also observed in the non-cirrhotic liver. Often, diagnosis is delayed until the tumor is relatively large and the disease is advanced; an effective screening or surveillance method is urgently required. Recently, the NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) guidelines of Japan were revised to incorporate new strategies and evidence for the management and surveillance of NAFLD/NASH. Fibrosis must be tested for noninvasively, and the risk of carcinogenesis must be stratified. The treatment of lifestyle-related diseases is expected to reduce the incidence of NAFLD and prevent liver carcinogenesis.


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