Hepatobiliary continuum: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cholelithiasis ... what else?

Abstract

The relationship between metabolic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and gallstone disease (GSD) is complex and seemingly interrelated. There is no doubt that there is an increased risk of cholelithiasis in patients with NAFLD, which is primarily associated with general pathogenetic mechanisms. These include central and peripheral insulin resistance, changes in the expression of transcription factors (hepatic X-receptor, farnesoid X-receptor (FXR) and membrane bile acid receptors (TGR5)). At the same time, the effect of gallstone disease on the course of NAFLD is assumed, although the pathogenetic factors of this association are still insufficient. There are accumulating data on an increased risk of other pathologies of the biliary tract in patients with NAFLD, in particular, of gallbladder polyps and tumors of the biliary tract. Recently there have been convincing data on the role of cholecystectomy in the progression of NAFLD, which may be due to disruption of endocrine balance and signaling function of bile acids, as well as the development of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. General therapeutic approaches to the treatment of interrelated hepatobiliary pathology may include new generation insulinsensitizers, FXR agonists, and ursodeoxycholic acid. The link between NAFLD and the pathology of the biliary tract is complex and multifaceted, and its further study opens up prospects for the development of new methods of treatment.

Keywords

• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• cholelithiasis
• gallbladder polyps
• biliary tract tumors
• cholecystectomy
• pathogenesis
• treatment