Case-finding strategies in non-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseKey points
Jerome Boursier,
Emmanuel A. Tsochatzis
Affiliations
Jerome Boursier
Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d’Angers, Angers, France; Laboratoire HIFIH, UPRES EA3859, SFR 4208, Université d’Angers, Angers, France; Corresponding authors. Addresses: Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 4 rue Larrey, 49933, Angers cedex 09, France; Tel: (+33) 2 41 35 34 10; Fax: (+33) 2 41 35 41 19 or UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, NW3 2QG, London, UK.
Emmanuel A. Tsochatzis
Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Campus, UCL, London, UK; Corresponding authors. Addresses: Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 4 rue Larrey, 49933, Angers cedex 09, France; Tel: (+33) 2 41 35 34 10; Fax: (+33) 2 41 35 41 19 or UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, NW3 2QG, London, UK.
Summary: Among the large population of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), identifying those with advanced disease remains challenging. Many patients are diagnosed late, following the development of liver-related complications, leading to poor clinical outcomes. Accumulating evidence suggests that using non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic risk factors improves the detection of patients in need of specialised management and is cost-effective. Because of the vast number of patients requiring evaluation, the active participation of general practitioners and physicians who manage patients with metabolic disorders, such as diabetologists, is crucial; this calls for the increased awareness of NAFLD beyond liver clinics. Non-invasive case-finding strategies will need to be further validated and generalised for upcoming drug therapies to have the required impact on the worldwide burden of NAFLD.
