Editors: Tatjana Ábel, Gabriella Lengyel

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

eBook: US $69 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $166
Printed Copy: US $131
Library License: US $276
ISBN: 978-1-68108-466-4 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-68108-465-7 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2017
DOI: 10.2174/97816810846571170101

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of elevated liver enzymes and chronic liver disease in Western countries. NAFLD is characterized by elevated liver enzymes in the absence of alcohol consumption and secondary causes of liver disease. It is an independent predictor of future risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (hypertension, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance).

This book is a quick reference guide for medical students and professionals about NAFLD. Readers will find a summary of epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, imaging techniques, histopathology, and disease management. The book also presents information about NAFLD linked with hepatocellular carcinoma and guidelines for treating NAFLD in pediatric patients. Each chapter presents information in a simple, structured manner making this text an ideal handbook for supplementing hepatology modules in medical curricula.

Preface

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of elevated liver enzymes and chronic liver disease in Western countries. Patients with elevated liver enzymes in the absence of alcohol consumption and secondary causes of liver disease are described as having NAFLD, which is an independent predictor of future risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (hypertension, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance). The ‘two hit’ theory introduced in 1998 by Day and James proposes that development of NASH requires a second hit to an already sensitized liver by steatosis which constitutes the first hit. Recently, the ‘two hit’ theory was strongly challenged and ‘one-hit’ and ‘multiple-hit’ theories have been proposed. Insulin resistance and obesity are two important factors of pathogenesis of NAFLD. The pathomechanism of NAFLD involves multiple genetic and environmental factors. Besides the genetic susceptibility to develop the disease, it appears that promoting factors notably include: lipid intermediate accumulation, altered expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Tatjana Ábel
Outpatient Department, Military Hospital,
Budapest
Hungary

&

Gabriella Lengyel
Semmelweis University, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine,
Budapest
Hungary

RELATED BOOKS

.Abdominal Pain: Essential Diagnosis and Management in Acute Medicine.
.Clinical Mechanics in the Gut: An Introduction.
.Comprehensive Practical Hepatology.
.Oesophago-gastric Surgery.