Short Communication - (2015) Volume 6, Issue 4
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by fatty infiltration of the liver in the absence of alcohol consumption. The incidence of NAFLD in general population is 30-40%. NAFLD is considered by some authors to be the liver manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and by other authors is considered to be a separate entity. The pathogenesis of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome seems to have common pathophysiological mechanisms, with focus on insulin resistance as a key factor. Insulin resistance seems to explain the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver, being the main pathogenetic link involved in the onset and progression of NAFLD. The natural evolution is not well known, and there is some controversy about the progression from NAFL to NASH and fibrosis. Current data on epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnostic supports the association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as a possible component in the cluster of metabolic syndrome. Clinical, experimental and epidemiological studies argue that NAFLD may be the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome.
Keywords: NAFLD; Metabolic syndrome; fatty liver
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a spectrum of liver damage ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis [1].
There are other factors and conditions that can lead to fatty liver, called non NASH fatty liver (NNFL), such as lipodystrophy, Wilson’s disease, primary mitochondrial disease, bariatric surgery, parenteral nutrition, medication (amiodarone, methotrexate, tamoxifen), toxins. The incidence of NAFLD varies on the geographic area and the diagnostic method. In Europe, the NAFLD incidence in the general population is 20-30% and in the USA is 27-38%. In Europe for diagnostic is used ultrasonography and in USA is used histology [2,3].
NAFLD is associated with components of the Metabolic Syndrome (MS) such as abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The insulin resistance was identified as a central point in pathogenetic mechanism of NAFLD, so it can be considered the liver manifestation of the MS. Insulin resistance in NAFLD is characterized by reduced whole-body, hepatic, and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is often associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, and numerous mediators released from immune cells and adipocytes may contribute liver damage and liver disease progression. In the MS the major associations of NAFLD are with obesity and with T2DM. The patients with these disorders have a 70-90% prevalence of NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD and T2DM have an additional risk of developing NASH, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic kidney disease and retinopathy [1,4,5].
MS is a set of metabolic and cardiovascular risk. The MS has been defined in 2009 by presence of a least three of the following five criteria: abdominal obesity (waist circumference increased for the Europeans ≥ 94 cm in men and ≥ 80 cm in women; for the Americans ≥ 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women), elevated triglycerides >150 mg/dl or treatment for hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol <40 mg/ dl or treatment for low HDL cholesterol, hypertension >135/85 mm Hg or treated hypertension, high fasting plasma glucose >100 mg/dl or treatment for hyperglycemia [6-8].
Over 90% of patients with NAFLD have at least one component of the MS and the complete diagnosis of MS is present at 55-65% of the patients with liver disease.
Definition and natural history
In 1980 Ludwig et al. coined the term Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (NASH) to describe the morphological pattern of liver injury. The natural evolution is not fully known and there are some controversies about the progression from NAFL to NASH and fibrosis. Some studies demonstrated that in the presence of simple steatosis (NAFL) the mortality is not different from what is recorded in the general population. If steatosis with inflammation is present (NASH) there is an increased mortality. The risk of progression in HCC in many studies showed that NAFLD is the most common etiology of HCC [1,9].
NAFLD is the third cause of liver transplantation in US after infection with HCV and the Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD). Introduction of new therapies for HCV infection make NAFLD the main etiology for liver transplantation [10].
Conditions associated with fatty liver disease
Many different agents and conditions have been associated with fatty liver disease: [4,11,12]
1. Acquired insulin resistance: obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypothalamic – pituitary dysfunction.
2. Genetic – inborn errors of metabolism: abetalipoproteinemia, Weber-Christian disease, galactosemia, limb lipodystrophy, type 1 glicogen storage disease, Wilson disease, tyrosinemia, systemic carnitine deficiency, Refsum syndrome.
3. Nutritional and intestinal disorders:
• Surgical: jejunal bypass, gastroplasty for morbid obesity, biliopancreatic diversion, extensive small bowel rejection;
• Inflammatory bowel disease;
• Protein caloric malnutrition
• Cachexia;
• Rapid weight loss, total parenteral nutrition, jejunal diverticulosis
4. Drugs and toxins: methotrexate, amiodarone, glucocorticoids, Tomoxifen, calcium channel blockers, phosphorus organic solvents, petrochemicals.
The exact pathogenesis of NAFLD remains poorly understood. Insulin resistance plays a central role in the net retention of lipids, particularly triglycerides by the hepatocyte. Insuline resistance has consequences in the metabolism of fatty acids and carbohydrates, resulting in fatty liver, changes that, in turn, lead to the aggravation of insuline resistance [13-15].
The second cause is generally atribuited to oxidative stress wich causes peroxidation of lipid in the hepatocyte membrane, cytokine production and Fas ligand induction, beeing responsible for the progression from steatosis to NASH to cirrosis. The oxidative stress leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and to an inadequate response of the endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial destruction are associated with insulin resistance.
Signs
There are no pathognomonic signs of NAFLD. Obesity is present in 30-100% of patients during physical examination. Hepatomegaly occurring in 45 % of patients and signs of portal hypertension (splenomegaly, spider nevi and palmar erithema) are the most common symptoms. Most patients with NAFLD (48-100%) are asymptomatic [1,11].
Vague right upper quadrant abdominal pain, fatigue and malaise are the most common of these nondescript symptoms. Pruritus, anorexia, nausea, jaundice, abdominal distension (ascites), gastrointestinal bleeding, confusion (encephalopathy) are all indicative of advanced liver disease occurring late in the course. The liver disease is often discovered incidentally when a hepatic panel reveals an elevated ALT level [1].
Laboratory
Moderate elevation of serum aminotransferase (ALT and AST) is the most common. It is important to exclude secondary causes of hepatic fat.
Liver biopsy is the only accurate method for the diagnosis of NASH and to determinate the severity of liver damage and long term prognosis [7].
There are two lesions associated with NAFLD: predominantly macro-vesicular steatosis alone or associated with varying amounts of cytological ballooning and spotty necrosis coffered mixed, neutrophilic lymphocytic inflammation glycogen nuclei.
The severity of steatosis can be graded on the basis of the extent of involved parenchyma. The most useful classification is the Bunt’s classification that unifies the steatosis and necroinflamation of fibrosis into the stage. According to the Bunt’s classification there are 3 grades of steatosis and 4 grades for fibrosis.
Weight management
Many studies show that moderate sustained and gradual weight loss may lead to an improvement in liver biochemistries and histology.
Insulin resistance
Pharmacologic agent controls insulin resistance. Thiazolidinediones favour the stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. Metformin (a biguanide) is another antidiabetic medication for hepatic insulin sensitivity.
Lipid lowering agents
Hypertrigliceridemia is often associated with NAFLD. Clofibrat (2 g/day) had no beneficial effect in liver tests or hepatic histology. Hepatocite protection is often a therapeutic agent such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), anti-oxidants, betaine and Vitamin E.
Patients with NAFLD who develop end stage liver disease should be evaluated for liver transplantation.
Metabolic syndrome and NAFLD
Recent studies have shown that NAFLD being manifested by simply fat liver to NASH may represent another feature of the metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia play a central role both in NAFLD and metabolic syndrome. Through clinical manifestations and laboratory data such as normoglycemia and a moderate increase in body weight, NAFLD has similar characteristics with diabetes and obesity. Studies have pointed out that almost all patients (90%) with NAFLD have at least one risk factor of MS and that about one-third of them have full features of MS. Obesity is present in 30-100% of patients with NAFLD and type-2 diabetes in 10-75%. Hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol levels are strongly associated with NAFLD. Recent studies have shown that NAFLD increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. In a prospective observational study Hamagush found that MS is a risk factor for NAFLD [1].
NAFLD is an important chronic liver disease. Insulin resistance and oxidative stress play critical role in pathogenesis and this mechanism is met in MS. NAFLD is strongly associated with obesity and T2DM as part of MS. Treatment aimed at reducing weight, triglycerides, and insulin resistance. NAFLD can be considered part of MS or an associated factor. Studies that clarify the pathogenic mechanism are needed leading to the establishment of an effective treatment both in MS and NAFLD.
