Liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease - diagnostic challenge with prognostic significance

摘要: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common in Western world, with a prevalence of 20%. In subgroup patients, inflammation, ballooning degeneration hepatocytes and varying degree fibrosis may develop, condition named non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Advanced (stage F3) cirrhosis F4) are histologic features that accurately predict increased mortality both liver-related cardiovascular diseases. Patients advanced or at risk for complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma esophageal varices should therefore be included surveillance programs. However, often unrecognized patients NAFLD, possibly leading to delayed diagnosis complications. The early NAFLD crucial, it can accomplished using serum biomarkers (e.g., Fibrosis Score, Fib-4 Index BARD) non-invasive imaging techniques (transient elastography acoustic radiation force impulse imaging). screening groups, obesity and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus, development these methods detect an stage. Additionally, low identified, need biopsies minimized. This review focuses on diagnostic challenge prognostic impact NAFLD.