Evolving ideas on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: from risk to catastrophe

Abstract

The aim of the work is to study the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) accompanied by changes in the clinical course and general transformation of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to a patient with comorbid conditions. Materials and methods. A retrospective and prospective analysis of the specialized literature and research on NAFLD associated with comorbid clinical conditions was carried out. Results. The review of the scientific literature provides data on the development of NAFLD associated with comorbidity, the results of clinical studies, as well as own observations. The main causes and risk factors, pathogenesis, prevalence and course of NAFLD, which is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, are discussed. The criteria for NAFLD diagnosis, diagnostic capabilities of various invasive and non-invasive methods, and modern approaches to the management of patients are presented. It has been shown that modern NAFLD treatment should take into account all existing risk factors including lifestyle modification, implications for metabolic syndrome components, hepatoprotective therapy, and correction of the intestinal microbiota. Conclusions. NAFLD in modern conditions is one of the most common diseases among the Ukrainian population in the overall structure of the internal organ pathology. Insufficient information on the features of NAFLD comorbid course limits the possibilities of diagnosis and treatment for this category of patients. Thus, the history of the development, progression and treatment of NAFLD comorbid course is constantly being improved.

Keywords

• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• fatty liver
• steatohepatitis
• clinic
• diagnosis
• treatment
• comorbidity