Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a wide spectrum of diseases that range from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. In addition, the burden of NAFLD is rapidly growing. Previously, NAFLD was regarded as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, which is a traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. However, there has been an increasing evidence that suggest NAFLD to be an independent risk factor of CVD. Therefore, currently, NAFLD should be reconsidered as not only a simple manifestation of metabolic syndrome, but also a systemic disease that contribute to CVD. There are some reasonable hypotheses about the relationship between NAFLD and CVD. Moreover, many studies have been performed to better understand this relationship. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanisms and pathogenesis of NAFLD that contribute to CVD have not yet been fully elucidated to date. This review focuses on the underlying mechanisms and relationship between NAFLD and CVD.