Étienne Sokal. Stéatose et stéatohépatites de l'enfant: le nouveau défi de l'hépatologie скачать в хорошем качестве

Étienne Sokal. Stéatose et stéatohépatites de l'enfant: le nouveau défi de l'hépatologie

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifactorial condition which refers to a wide spectrum of liver abnormalities ranging from a simple liver steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH) . The latter can be associated with fibrosis and may progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. NAFLD has currently become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents. Its prevalence is currently increasing in the pediatric age, together with obesity. Obesity is believed to represent the major risk factor for NAFLD, which is considered to be the liver presentation of the metabolic syndrome. Even if the pathogenesis of NAFLD is not fully understood, it is widely accepted that multiple factors affect the disease development and progression. The genetic background and the environment are both involved in the etiopathogenesis of NAFLD. The complete understanding of the pathogenesis could help to develop non-invasive diagnostic tools and to identify new therapeutic targets. Nowadays, liver biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and staging of NAFLD. Even if lifestyle modifications and diet can be useful in the treatment of NAFLD, there is a crucial need to develop new pharmacological therapies in case of unresponsiveness to the first-line therapy.