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Review: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: natural history, pathogenesis and treatment

Liver Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

James W Ferguson

Medical Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, UK, j.w.ferguson{at}ed.ac.uk

Ian W Campbell

Medical Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, UK

Peter C Hayes

Liver Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the term used to describe the alcohol-like liver injury that occurs in the absence of alcohol abuse. It embraces a range of histological abnormalities including simple steatosis or fatty liver, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NAFLD induced cirrhosis. The predominant risk factor for NAFLD appears to be insulin resistance. Simple steatosis and NASH are generally asymptomatic and it is only the development of cirrhosis that has clinical consequence. At present, therapy in NAFLD concentrates on managing risk factors but in the future clinical trials may provide robust evidence for the use of insulin sensitising agents and other potential therapies.

Key Words: cirrhosis • metabolic • diabetes • obesity.

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The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, Vol. 6, No. 6, 251-260 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/14746514060060060201


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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Mcavoy, N. C Articles by Hayes, P. C Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?