Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s Perspective
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main cause of chronic liver disease globally. NAFLD is a complex pathology, considered to be the hepatic expression of metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is supposed to become the main indication for liver transplantation in the coming years and is estimat...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Gastroenterology Insights |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7422/15/4/71 |
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| author | Cristina Maria Marginean Denisa Pirscoveanu Sergiu Marian Cazacu Marian Sorin Popescu Iulia Cristina Marginean George Alexandru Iacob Mihaela Popescu |
| author_facet | Cristina Maria Marginean Denisa Pirscoveanu Sergiu Marian Cazacu Marian Sorin Popescu Iulia Cristina Marginean George Alexandru Iacob Mihaela Popescu |
| author_sort | Cristina Maria Marginean |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main cause of chronic liver disease globally. NAFLD is a complex pathology, considered to be the hepatic expression of metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is supposed to become the main indication for liver transplantation in the coming years and is estimated to affect 57.5–74.0% of obese people, 22.5% of children and 52.8% of obese children, with 50% of individuals with type 2 diabetes being diagnosed with NAFLD. Recent research has proved that an increase in adipose tissue insulin resistance index is an important marker of liver injury in patients with NAFLD. Despite being the main underlying cause of incidental liver damage and a growing worldwide health problem, NAFLD is mostly under-appreciated. Currently, NAFLD is considered a multifactorial disease, with various factors contributing to its pathogenesis, associated with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, but also with cardiovascular, kidney and endocrine disorders (polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C, sleep apnea, inflammatory bowel diseases, cystic fibrosis, viral infections, autoimmune liver diseases and malnutrition are some other conditions in which NAFLD can be found. The aim of this review is to emphasize that, from the clinician’s perspective, NAFLD is an actual and valuable key diagnosis factor for multiple conditions; thus, efforts need to be made in order to increase recognition of the disease and its consequences. Although there is no global consensus, physicians should consider screening people who are at risk of NAFLD. A large dissemination of current concepts on NAFLD and an extensive collaboration between physicians, such as gastroenterologists, internists, cardiologists, diabetologists, nutritionists and endocrinologists, is equally needed to ensure we have the knowledge and resources to address this public health challenge. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-27b7ec082b9f4fa2aadb0da92701f125 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2036-7414 2036-7422 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gastroenterology Insights |
| spelling | doaj-art-27b7ec082b9f4fa2aadb0da92701f1252025-08-20T02:53:26ZengMDPI AGGastroenterology Insights2036-74142036-74222024-12-011541028105310.3390/gastroent15040071Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s PerspectiveCristina Maria Marginean0Denisa Pirscoveanu1Sergiu Marian Cazacu2Marian Sorin Popescu3Iulia Cristina Marginean4George Alexandru Iacob5Mihaela Popescu6Internal Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaNeurology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaResearch Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gastroenterology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaInternal Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaEndocrinology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main cause of chronic liver disease globally. NAFLD is a complex pathology, considered to be the hepatic expression of metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is supposed to become the main indication for liver transplantation in the coming years and is estimated to affect 57.5–74.0% of obese people, 22.5% of children and 52.8% of obese children, with 50% of individuals with type 2 diabetes being diagnosed with NAFLD. Recent research has proved that an increase in adipose tissue insulin resistance index is an important marker of liver injury in patients with NAFLD. Despite being the main underlying cause of incidental liver damage and a growing worldwide health problem, NAFLD is mostly under-appreciated. Currently, NAFLD is considered a multifactorial disease, with various factors contributing to its pathogenesis, associated with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, but also with cardiovascular, kidney and endocrine disorders (polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C, sleep apnea, inflammatory bowel diseases, cystic fibrosis, viral infections, autoimmune liver diseases and malnutrition are some other conditions in which NAFLD can be found. The aim of this review is to emphasize that, from the clinician’s perspective, NAFLD is an actual and valuable key diagnosis factor for multiple conditions; thus, efforts need to be made in order to increase recognition of the disease and its consequences. Although there is no global consensus, physicians should consider screening people who are at risk of NAFLD. A large dissemination of current concepts on NAFLD and an extensive collaboration between physicians, such as gastroenterologists, internists, cardiologists, diabetologists, nutritionists and endocrinologists, is equally needed to ensure we have the knowledge and resources to address this public health challenge.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7422/15/4/71NAFLDinsulin resistancemetabolic syndromemultifactorial disease |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Maria Marginean Denisa Pirscoveanu Sergiu Marian Cazacu Marian Sorin Popescu Iulia Cristina Marginean George Alexandru Iacob Mihaela Popescu Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s Perspective Gastroenterology Insights NAFLD insulin resistance metabolic syndrome multifactorial disease |
| title | Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s Perspective |
| title_full | Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s Perspective |
| title_short | Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Awareness of a Diagnostic Challenge—A Clinician’s Perspective |
| title_sort | non alcoholic fatty liver disease awareness of a diagnostic challenge a clinician s perspective |
| topic | NAFLD insulin resistance metabolic syndrome multifactorial disease |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7422/15/4/71 |
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