Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 19, Issue 29, 2013

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently represents the most common liver disease in Western countries, being found in 25-30% of the general population. NAFLD embraces a wide range of metabolic hepatic damage characterised by steatosis and, in some cases, associated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The long-term hepatic prognosis of NAFLD patients depends on the histological stage at diagnosis: simp Read More

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses pure steatosis through nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries. NASH is a progressive liver disease that increases the risk of cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. Interestingly, the global health risk of NAFLD is not confined to the liver. Compared with those without NAFLD, patients with NAFLD exhibi Read More

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects about 20%-30% of the general population, and its clinical relevance arises from the fact that 20%-30% of these subjects develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a condition at risk of cirrhosis progression. In addition NAFLD, and in particular NASH patients, are also at high risk of cardiovascular alterations, suffering overall from an increased liver and no liver-related Read More

Liver fat deposition related to systemic insulin resistance defines non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which, when associated with oxidative hepatocellular damage, inflammation, and activation of fibrogenesis, i.e. non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), can progress towards cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to the epidemic of obesity, NAFLD is now the most frequent liver disease and the leading cause of altere Read More

NAFLD is the most common liver disease worldwide but it is the potential evolution to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that makes NAFLD of such clinical importance. The current work provides an overview of the main mechanims and potential therapeutical insights involved in NAFLD, NASH, fibrosis and HCC progression.

Non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the more severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In NASH, fatty liver, hepatic inflammation, hepatocyte injury and fibrogenesis are associated, and this condition may eventually lead to cirrhosis. Current treatment of NASH relies on the reduction of body weight and increase in physical activity, but there is no pharmacologic treatment approved as yet. Emerging data indi Read More

Healthy habits in terms of food intake and physical activity are first-line approach to prevention and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but difficulties arise in turning attempts into practice. Independently of the specific role of individual nutrients, not universally proven, overweight, obesity and diabetes are the specific conditions most frequently associated with hepatic fat accumulation. Accordingly, weight loss is ma Read More

Background. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common chronic liver disorder worldwide, comprises a spectrum of conditions ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. NASH is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cardiometabolic disease. Insulin resistance (IR) is the underlying pathogenic mechanism for NAFLD, the presence Read More

This review is part of a special issue dealing with various aspects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We will focus on promising treatments of NASH with antioxidants and drugs that interfere with lipid metabolism.The other therapies of interest, such as diet, behavioral changes, and insulin sensitizers are presented elsewhere. Oxidative stress is believed to play a key role Read More

There is increasing evidence for a correlation between intestinal microbiota, bacterial translocation and hepatic steatosis. Intestinal microbiota affects nutrient absorption and energy homeostasis. Altered intestinal permeability may favor the passage of bacteriaderived compounds into systemic circulation, causing a systemic inflammatory state, characteristic of the metabolic syndrome. The interaction between intestin Read More