NASH Observatory

⏿ The PanNASH Initiative is an interactive web-based platform presenting global NASH statistics to inform NASH control and research.

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Comorbidities Articles

NAFLD: an increased risk of severe of COVID-19

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate if MAFLD is associated with a more severe disease course of COVID-19. P. J. Hegyi et al. (Medical School, University, Pécs, Hungary) included nine studies in this quantitative and qualitative synthesis. MAFLD and NAFLD are associated with a more severe clinical picture of COVID-19. These results support...

ByDr. D. Beard
OnAugust 27, 2021

Management Articles Commented Articles NASH Observatory

Eight recommendations to improve NAFLD care models

Little attention has been given to the design and implementation of efficient and effective models of care for patients with NAFLD. In many health-care settings, no formal pathways exist, or are often not standardised according to good practices...

ByDr. G. Bozet, MD
OnAugust 20, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Pathophysiology Articles

Accumulation of T cells in NASH-affected livers

Immunotherapy has been approved for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but biomarker-based stratification of patients for optimal response to therapy is an unmet need. In preclinical models of NASH-induced HCC, therapeutic immunotherapy targeted at programmed death-1 (PD1) expanded..

ByDr. D. Beard
OnAugust 20, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Epidemiology Articles

NAFLD: a growing burden of disability

The burden of chronic liver disease varies according to aetiology and geographic location. J. M. Paik et al. (Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, VA, USA) assessed the global burden of disability from cirrhosis and liver cancer according to the most common aetiologies, between 2007 and 2017..

ByDr. G. Bozet, MD
OnAugust 18, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Epidemiology Articles

Global epidemiology of NAFLD-related HCC

In this Review, D. Q. Huang et al. (National University Health System, Singapore) discuss the global epidemiology, projections, and risk factors for NAFLD-related HCC, and propose preventive strategies to tackle this growing problem. The prevalence of NAFLD-related HCC is high in several regions worldwide...

ByDr. D. Beard
OnAugust 18, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Diagnosis Articles

Detection of HCC in patients with NAFLD

Current surveillance strategy for patients with NAFLD at risk of HCC development is unsatisfactory. G. P. Caviglia et al. (National University Health System, and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore) aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), protein induced by vitamin K...

ByDr. G. Bozet, MD
OnAugust 12, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Epidemiology Articles Pathophysiology Articles

The global burden of cirrhosis: the role of NAFLD

The World Health Organization’s metric of public health burden is the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY), the sum of years of life lost due to premature death and years of life lived with disability. Cirrhosis was responsible for 26.8% fewer DALYs in 2019 than in 1990, which is positive...

ByDr. D. Beard
OnAugust 12, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Pathophysiology Articles

Clinical indicators for progression of NASH to cirrhosis

Providing clinicians with the tools to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of NAFLD will help prevent known complications such as cirrhosis and HCC and improve quality of life for these patients.This article by T. K. Seen et al. (Icahn School of Medicine, Elmhurst Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, USA) discusses...

ByDr. G. Bozet, MD
OnAugust 10, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles Definitions Articles

From NAFLD to MAFLD: a premature change in terminology

Despite the substantial gains in our understanding of NAFLD/NASH over the past 2 decades, there has been some dissatisfaction with the terminology “non-alcoholic” which overemphasises “alcohol” and underemphasises the predisposing metabolic risk factors.
The term MAFLD is still suboptimal, leaving a great deal of ambiguity...

ByDr. D. Beard
OnAugust 10, 2021

NASH Observatory

HCC in Patients with NAFLD/NASH

Prof Bugianesi, Italy, reviews a burning issue: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with NAFLD/ NASH. She reviews the epidemiology globally and impact on liver transplant. There are multiple risks factors for HCC in NASH patients such as obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and the metabolic syndrome in general. For clinicians, she presents the main studies, the profiles of the patients particularly at risk and risk stratifications strategies.

ByProf. Bugianesi
OnAugust 9, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles

Follow-up biopsy in NASH trials: 82%

The authors of this study aimed to quantify the proportion of participants with a valid follow-up biopsy in randomised clinical trials in NASH with at least 1-year follow-up. Forty-one trials were included. The proportion of participants with a valid follow-up biopsy was 82%, without evidence of a difference by location...

ByDr. G. Bozet, MD
OnAugust 5, 2021

NASH Observatory Commented Articles

Cirrhosis: NAFLD patients more sensitive to frailty

Physical frailty increases susceptibility to stressors and predicts adverse outcomes of cirrhosis. In this study, patients with NAFLD compared with alcoholic cirrhosis were older and had a higher proportion of females, higher BMI. The liver frailty index did not differ, and the prevalence..

ByDr. D. Beard
OnAugust 5, 2021