Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a broad term encompassing a spectrum of abnormalities of the liver. The incidence of NAFLD is rapidly rising and so is the available knowledge and information regarding it. NAFLD is emerging as a common cause of liver dysfunction in non-alcoholics. It is found to be associated with multiple conditions like obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, etc. Basic pathogenesis includes fat deposition in hepatocytes with varying degree of inflammation and regeneration of the liver. Presentation of NAFLD varies from asymptomatic to florid liver cell failure in advanced cases of NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis). The disease is mainly diagnosed by exclusion of other conditions with a high index of suspicion for NAFLD. There is no specific management available for NAFLD; early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition remains the mainstay of treatment. However, there is much scope for research to let us understand the disease and deal with it appropriately. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease and its incidence is rising worldwide. Understanding its pathogenesis, biochemical parameters, histological grading and staging, and its management, are vital issues today in clinical practice.