Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
-
The hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is excessive fatty accumulation in the hepatocytes, which may be an isolated event (non-alcoholic fatty liver, NAFL) or accompanied by evidence of inflammation and cell injury with or without fibrosis (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH). NASH, the more aggressive form of NAFLD, may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. ⋯ While the results of traditional therapies such as vitamin E and pioglitazone have been significant for steatosis and inflammation, they have had no effect on fibrosis, which is the strongest indicator of mortality in this condition. However, the understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of NASH has evolved and several promising novel therapies to target and possibly reverse fibrosis are being evaluated, making the future outlook of NASH therapy more optimistic.