| Theme |
NASH -- Pathogenesis and Treatment |
| Title |
Concepts of NAFLD/NASH Disease |
| Author |
Kohei Oda |
Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| Author |
Hirofumi Uto |
Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| Author |
Hirohito Tsubouchi |
Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| [ Summary ] |
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is pathologically similar to alcoholic liver disease, although NAFLD is not associated with a history of apparent alcohol use. In addition, NAFLD is roughly divided into the categories of conditions simple fatty liver, which only involve fat deposition in the hepatocytes, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis of the liver. Although NAFLD can be diagnosed with imaging studies, histological examination of the liver is necessary for the diagnosis of NASH. In the Matteoni classification of NAFLD, type 3 and 4 are defined as NASH. Liver cirrhosis corresponds to stage 4 in the Brunt classification of NASH. Since NAFLD/NASH is associated with obesity and insulin resistance, and is often accompanied by diabetes and dyslipidemia, NAFLD/NASH is thought to represent one phenotype of metabolic syndrome and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. NAFLD/NASH should be considered a hepatic manifestation of systemic illnesses, and NAFLD/NASH patients should be treated appropriately. |