Sex Differences in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: State of the Art and Identification of Research Gaps.

Despite tremendous research advancements in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), our understanding of sex differences in NAFLD remains insufficient. This review summarizes the current knowledge on sex differences in NAFLD, identifies gaps, and discusses important considerations for future research. The prevalence and severity of NAFLD are higher in men than in women during the reproductive age. However, after menopause, NAFLD occurs at a higher rate in women, suggesting that estrogen is protective. Sex differences also exist for the major risk factors of NAFLD. In general, animal models of NAFLD recapitulate the sex differences observed in patients, with more severe steatosis and steatohepatitis, more proinflammatory/profibrotic cytokines, and a higher incidence of hepatic tumors in male than female subjects. Based on computer modeling, female and male livers are metabolically distinct with unique regulators modulating sex-specific metabolic outcomes. Analysis of the literature reveals that most published clinical and epidemiological studies fail to examine sex differences appropriately. Considering the paucity of data on sex differences and the knowledge that regulators of pathways relevant to current therapeutic targets for NAFLD differ by sex, clinical trials should be designed to test drug efficacy and safety according to sex, age, reproductive stage (i.e., menopause), and synthetic hormone use. Conclusion: Sex differences do exist in the prevalence, risk factors, fibrosis, and clinical outcomes of NAFLD, suggesting that, while not yet incorporated, sex will probably be considered in future practice guidelines; adequate consideration of sex differences, sex hormones/menopausal status, age, and other reproductive information in clinical investigation and gene association studies of NAFLD are needed to fill current gaps and implement precision medicine for patients with NAFLD.

Neoangiogenesis-related genes are hallmarks of fast-growing hepatocellular carcinomas and worst survival. Results from a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The biological heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) makes prognosis difficult. We translate the results of a genome-wide high-throughput analysis into a tool that accurately predicts at presentation tumour growth and survival of patients with HCC. DESIGN: Ultrasound surveillance identified HCC in 78 (training set) and 54 (validation set) consecutive patients with cirrhosis. Patients underwent two CT scans 6 weeks apart (no treatment in-between) to determine tumour volumes (V0 and V1) and calculate HCC doubling time. Baseline-paired HCC and surrounding tissue biopsies for microarray study (Agilent Whole Human Genome Oligo Microarrays) were also obtained. Predictors of survival were assessed by multivariate Cox model. RESULTS: Calculated tumour doubling times ranged from 30 to 621 days (mean, 107±91 days; median, 83 days) and were divided into quartiles: ≤53 days (n=19), 54-82 days (n=20), 83-110 days (n=20) and ≥111 days (n=19). Median survival according to doubling time was significantly lower for the first quartile versus the others (11 vs 41 months, 42, and 47 months, respectively) (p<0.0001). A five-gene transcriptomic hepatic signature including angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2), delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), neuropilin (NRP)/tolloid (TLL)-like 2 (NETO2), endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM1), and nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 1 (NR4A1) was found to accurately identify rapidly growing HCCs of the first quartile (ROC AUC: 0.961; 95% CI 0.919 to 1.000; p<0.0001) and to be an independent factor for mortality (HR: 3.987; 95% CI 1.941 to 8.193, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The hepatic five-gene signature was able to predict HCC growth in individual patient and the consequent risk of death. This implies a role of this molecular tool in the future therapeutic management of patients with HCC. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01657695.

The independent predictors of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and its individual histological features.: Insulin resistance, serum uric acid, metabolic syndrome, alanine aminotransferase and serum total cholesterol are a clue to pathogenesis and candidate targets for treatment.

AIM: The diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is based on the individual histological features: steatosis, lobular inflammation and ballooning. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS ≥ 5) is used in clinical trials. Fibrosis dictates long-term NAFLD prognosis. Recently, more-than-mild portal inflammation has raised interest as a marker of NAFLD severity. We assessed the independent predictors of: (I) individual histological lesions of NASH; (II) diagnosis of NASH; (III) significant (stage ≥2) and advanced (stage ≥3) fibrosis; and (IV) more-than-mild portal inflammation. METHODS: Data from 118 consecutive biopsy-proven NAFLD patients observed at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: At stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses, independent predictors were as follows. For the individual histological features of NASH: insulin resistance (IR), assessed with Homeostasis Model Assessment-IR (HOMA-IR), serum uric acid (SUA) and serum total cholesterol (TCH) for moderate-to-severe steatosis; waist circumference (waist), HOMA-IR and TCH for lobular inflammation; waist, HOMA-IR, metabolic syndrome (MS), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), SUA and TCH for ballooning. For NASH diagnosis: waist, HOMA-IR, MS, ALT, SUA and TCH (Brunt et al.'s classification); ALT, SUA and TCH for NAS ≥ 5. For significant and advanced fibrosis, respectively: waist, MS and ALT; age, platelets, HOMA-IR, diabetes and TCH. For more-than-mild portal inflammation: serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum iron, NAS ≥ 5 and significant liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION: HOMA-IR, SUA, MS, ALT and TCH are independent predictors of NASH and its individual histological lesions, notably including fibrosis. Based on our findings, these factors should be considered major pathogenic drivers of NASH and, by inference, potential targets for treatment.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with an almost twofold increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The magnitude of the risk of incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is poorly known. We gauged the risk of developing T2D and MetS in patients with NAFLD diagnosed by either serum liver enzymes (aminotransferases or gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT]) or ultrasonography. METHODS: Pertinent prospective studies were identified through extensive electronic database research, and studies fulfilling enrolment criteria were included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Overall, in a pooled population of 117020 patients (from 20 studies), who were followed-up for a median period of 5 years (range: 3-14.7 years), NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of incident T2D with a pooled relative risk of 1.97 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80-2.15) for alanine aminotransferase, 1.58 (95% CI, 1.43-1.74) for aspartate aminotransferase, 1.86 (95% CI, 1.71-2.03) for GGT (last vs first quartile or quintile), and 1.86 (95% CI, 1.76-1.95) for ultrasonography, respectively. Overall, in a pooled population of 81411 patients (from eight studies) who were followed-up for a median period of 4.5 years (range: 3-11 years), NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of incident MetS with a pooled relative risk of 1.80 (95% CI, 1.72-1.89) for alanine aminotransferase (last vs first quartile or quintile), 1.98 (95% CI, 1.89-2.07) for GGT, and 3.22 (95% CI, 3.05-3.41) for ultrasonography, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as diagnosed by either liver enzymes or ultrasonography, significantly increases the risk of incident T2D and MetS over a median 5-year follow-up.

Cardiovascular Disease and Myocardial Abnormalities in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in many developed countries, affecting an estimated 30 % of the adult population. In this updated clinical review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the strong association between NAFLD and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and other functional, structural, and arrhythmic cardiac complications (e.g., left ventricular dysfunction, heart valve diseases and atrial fibrillation). We also briefly discuss the putative biological mechanisms linking NAFLD with these important extra-hepatic complications. To date, a large body of evidence has suggested that NAFLD is not simply a marker of CHD and other functional, structural, and arrhythmic cardiac complications, but also may play a part in the development and progression of these cardiac complications. The clinical implication of these findings is that patients with NAFLD may benefit from more intensive surveillance and early treatment interventions aimed at decreasing the risk of CHD and other cardiac and arrhythmic complications.

Type 2 Diabetes in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatitis C Virus Infection--Liver: The "Musketeer" in the Spotlight.

The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) involves chronic hyperinsulinemia due to systemic and hepatic insulin resistance (IR), which if uncorrected, will lead to progressive pancreatic beta cell failure in predisposed individuals. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of fatty (simple steatosis and steatohepatitis) and non-fatty liver changes (NASH-cirrhosis with or without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)) that are commonly observed among individuals with multiple metabolic derangements, notably including visceral obesity, IR and T2D. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is also often associated with both hepatic steatosis and features of a specific HCV-associated dysmetabolic syndrome. In recent years, the key role of the steatotic liver in the development of IR and T2D has been increasingly recognized. Thus, in this comprehensive review we summarize the rapidly expanding body of evidence that links T2D with NAFLD and HCV infection. For each of these two liver diseases with systemic manifestations, we discuss the epidemiological burden, the pathophysiologic mechanisms and the clinical implications. To date, substantial evidence suggests that NAFLD and HCV play a key role in T2D development and that the interaction of T2D with liver disease may result in a "vicious circle", eventually leading to an increased risk of all-cause mortality and liver-related and cardiovascular complications. Preliminary evidence also suggests that improvement of NAFLD is associated with a decreased incidence of T2D. Similarly, the prevention of T2D following HCV eradication in the era of direct-acting antiviral agents is a biologically plausible result. However, additional studies are required for further clarification of mechanisms involved.

Endpoints in NASH Clinical Trials: Are We Blind in One Eye?

This narrative review aims to illustrate the notion that nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), recently renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is a systemic metabolic disorder featuring both adverse hepatic and extrahepatic outcomes. In recent years, several NASH trials have failed to identify effective pharmacological treatments and, therefore, lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of therapy for NASH. with this context, we analyze the epidemiological burden of NASH and the possible pathogenetic factors involved. These include genetic factors, insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, immuno-thrombosis, oxidative stress, reprogramming of hepatic metabolism, and hypoxia, all of which eventually culminate in low-grade chronic inflammation and increased risk of fibrosis progression. The possible explanations underlying the failure of NASH trials are also accurately examined. We conclude that the high heterogeneity of NASH, resulting from variable genetic backgrounds, exposure, and responses to different metabolic stresses, susceptibility to hepatocyte lipotoxicity, and differences in repair-response, calls for personalized medicine approaches involving research on noninvasive biomarkers. Future NASH trials should aim at achieving a complete assessment of systemic determinants, modifiers, and correlates of NASH, thus adopting a more holistic and unbiased approach, notably including cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic outcomes, without restricting therapeutic perspectives to histological surrogates of liver-related outcomes alone.

Risk and Management of Bleeding Complications with Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism: a Narrative Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are highly prevalent conditions with a significant healthcare burden, and represent the main indications for anticoagulation. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the first choice treatment of AF/VTE, and have become the most prescribed class of anticoagulants globally, overtaking vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Compared to VKAs, DOACs have a similar or better efficacy/safety profile, with reduced risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), while the risk of major bleeding and other bleeding harms may vary depending on the type of DOAC. We have critically reviewed available evidence from randomized controlled trials and observational studies regarding the risk of bleeding complications of DOACs compared to VKAs in patients with AF and VTE. Special patient populations (e.g., elderly, extreme body weights, chronic kidney disease) have specifically been addressed. Management of bleeding complications and possible resumption of anticoagulation, in particular after ICH and gastrointestinal bleeding, are also discussed. Finally, some suggestions are provided to choose the optimal DOAC to minimize adverse events according to individual patient characteristics and bleeding risk.

Ultrasonographic fatty liver indicator, a novel score which rules out NASH and is correlated with metabolic parameters in NAFLD.

BACKGROUND: Differentiating steatosis from NASH is key in deciding treatment and follow-up schedules. We hypothesized that sonographic grading of steatosis will correlate with metabolic and pathologic changes of NASH. METHODS: Fifty-three non-consecutive patients had a semi-quantitative evaluation of hepatic steatosis through ultrasonographic Fatty Liver Indicator (US-FLI) just prior to liver biopsy. All biopsies demonstrated NAFLD. US-FLI is a new scoring system ranging 2-8 based on the intensity of liver/kidney contrast, posterior attenuation of ultrasound beam, vessel blurring, difficult visualization of gallbladder wall, difficult visualization of the diaphragm and areas of focal sparing. NAFLD is diagnosed by the minimum score ≥2. Ultrasonographic findings were correlated with metabolic and histological data. Inter-observer US-FLI score agreement, evaluated by three different operators in 31 consecutive patients with steatosis, showed "almost perfect/substantial" agreement (P < 0.001). RESULTS: US-FLI showed a positive correlation with HOMA, insulin, uric acid, ferritin, ALT and bilirubin and was associated with steatosis extent assessed histologically and histological features of NASH, except for fibrosis. US-FLI was an independent predictor of NASH (OR 2.236; P = 0.007) and a US-FLI < 4 had a high negative predictive value (94%) in ruling out the diagnosis of severe NASH according to Kleiner's criteria. CONCLUSION: Data confirm the hypothesis that US-FLI significantly correlates with metabolic derangements and individual pathologic criteria for NASH and may better select patients for liver biopsy.

First Human Case of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Non-Endemic Region in Italy: A Case Report.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a human viral infectious disease caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), is emerging in Italy, especially in the north-eastern area. No human cases of autochthonous TBE have been reported in Italy's central regions (such as Emilia-Romagna, Italy). However, here we describe the first human case of TBEV infection in this region, pointing to endemic transmission of TBEV, supporting the concept of circulation of TBEV and of the presence of a possible hot spot in the Serramazzoni region in the Emilian Apennines.

Liver Fibrosis Biomarkers Accurately Exclude Advanced Fibrosis and Are Associated with Higher Cardiovascular Risk Scores in Patients with NAFLD or Viral Chronic Liver Disease.

Liver fibrosis predicts liver-related and cardiovascular outcomes in chronic liver disease patients. We compared the diagnostic performance of various liver fibrosis biomarkers for identifying histological significant/advanced fibrosis. Additionally, the correlations of such liver fibrosis biomarkers with cardiovascular risk (CVR) scores were evaluated. 173 patients with viral hepatitis (157 HCV and 16 HBV) and 107 with a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were consecutively enrolled. Various liver fibrosis biomarkers: aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (ARR), AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 (FiB-4), Forns index, NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), BARD (body mass index (BMI), AAR, Diabetes) score, and Hepamet fibrosis score (HFS), were used to identify significant/advanced fibrosis. CVR was assessed by using the SCORE, the Progetto CUORE, or the Framingham risk scoring systems. Liver fibrosis biomarkers performed better in predicting advanced rather than significant liver fibrosis in all patients, regardless of chronic liver disease aetiology. Forns index and HFS performed best in predicting advanced fibrosis in patients with viral chronic liver disease and NAFLD. Lower cut-offs of these liver fibrosis biomarkers had high negative predictive values for advanced fibrosis overall, as well as in patients with NAFLD or viral chronic liver disease. FIB-4, Forns index, NFS, and HFS were positively correlated with SCORE and Framingham risk scores. In conclusion, liver fibrosis biomarkers accurately exclude advanced fibrosis and positively correlate with CVR scores in patients with chronic liver disease.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Liver Disease in the Era of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Global Epidemic: A Narrative Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are highly prevalent and relevant healthcare issues. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now the first-choice for anticoagulant treatment of these conditions displaying a better efficacy/safety profile than vitamin-K antagonists, mainly due to significantly reduced risk of major bleeding, especially of intracranial haemorrhage. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in developed countries showing a continuously growing prevalence. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), its evolutive form, will be the leading cause for liver transplantation by 2020. NAFLD is independently associated with an increased risk of abnormalities of cardiac structure and function, including cardiac rhythm disorders (mainly AF). Moreover, data suggest an increased risk of unprovoked VTE associated with NAFLD/NASH. Therefore, a growing number of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) will be candidate for anticoagulant therapy in the near future. Cirrhosis of any etiology is characterized by an unstable thrombosis/bleeding haemostatic balance, making anticoagulant therapy particularly challenging in this condition. Given that patients with significant active liver disease and cirrhosis were excluded from all pivotal randomized controlled trials on DOACs, this comprehensive review aims at critically discussing real-world evidence, including the latest population studies, regarding the use of DOACs in patients with CLD/cirrhosis.

Semi-Quantitative Ultrasonographic Evaluation of NAFLD.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) embraces histopathological entities ranging from the relatively benign simple steatosis to the progressive form nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with fibrosis and an increased risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is the most common liver disease and is associated with extrahepatic comorbidities including a major cardiovascular disease burden. The non-invasive diagnosis of NAFLD and the identification of subjects at risk of progressive liver disease and cardio-metabolic complications are key in implementing personalized treatment schedules and follow-up strategies. In this review, we highlight the potential role of ultrasound semiquantitative scores for detecting and assessing steatosis severity, progression of NAFLD, and cardio-metabolic risk. Ultrasonographic scores of fatty liver severity act as sensors of cardio-metabolic health and may assist in selecting patients to submit to second-line non-invasive imaging techniques and/or liver biopsy.

Differential effect of oleic and palmitic acid on lipid accumulation and apoptosis in cultured hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Studies have shown monounsaturated oleic acid to be less toxic than palmitic acid and to prevent/attenuate palmitic acid hepatocites toxicity in steatosis models in vitro. However, to what degree these effects are mediated by steatosis extent is unknown. METHODS: We evaluated whether steatosis per se is associated with hepatocytes apoptosis and determined the role of oleic and palmitic acid, the most abundant fatty acids in western diets, on triglyceride accumulation and apoptosis in an in vitro model of steatosis induced in three hepatocytic cell lines (HepG2, HuH7, WRL68). The impact of incubation for 24 h with oleic (0.66 and 1.32 mM) and palmitic acid (0.33 and 0.66 mM), alone or combined (molar ratio 2 : 1) on steatosis, apoptosis, and insulin signalling, was evaluated. RESULTS: Concurrent with PPARgamma and SREBP-1 gene activation, steatosis extent was larger when cells were treated with oleic than with palmitic acid; the latter fatty acid was associated with increased PPARalpha expression. Cell apoptosis was inversely proportional to steatosis deposition. Moreover, palmitic, but not oleic acid, impaired insulin signalling. Despite the higher amount of fat resulting from incubation of the two fatty acids combined, the apoptosis rate and impaired insulin signalling were lower than in cells treated with palmitic acid alone, indicating a protective effect of oleic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Oleic acid is more steatogenic but less apoptotic than palmitic acid in hepatocityc cell cultures. These data may provide a biological basis for clinical findings on dietary patterns and pathogenetic models of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Hepatitis C virus-infected patients are 'spared' from the metabolic syndrome but not from insulin resistance. A comparative study of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis C virus-related steatosis.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C feature steatosis and insulin resistance (IR), conditions associated with the metabolic syndrome (MS). OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of MS and determinants of IR in patients with NAFLD and chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Ninety-three consecutive patients with NAFLD, 97 with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1 and 2, and 182 'healthy' controls without steatosis were enrolled in the present study. The prevalence of MS was assessed by modified Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and IR by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). IR was defined as the 75th percentile of the HOMA-IR of control subjects. RESULTS: While the prevalence of IR was similar in NAFLD and HCV-infected subjects (70.0% and 78.7%, respectively), the prevalence of MS was significantly higher in NAFLD patients than in HCV-infected patients (27.9% versus 4.1%) and in controls (5.6%). With multivariate analysis, IR was predicted by body mass index (OR 1.263; 95% CI 1.078 to 1.480) and triglyceridemia (OR 1.011; 95% CI 1.002 to 1.020) in NAFLD and by sex (OR for female sex 0.297; 95% CI 0.094 to 0.940) and fibrosis stage (OR 2.751; 95% CI 1.417 to 5.340) in chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: IR is independently associated with body mass index and triglyceridemia in NAFLD, sex and fibrosis in chronic HCV infection, and has a higher prevalence in NAFLD and chronic hepatitis C than in controls. However, the frequency of MS in HCVinfected patients, similar to that of controls, is significantly lower than that seen in NAFLD patients. The current diagnostic criteria of MS are more likely to 'capture' patients with NAFLD than with chronic hepatitis C, although both groups are insulin resistant.

Extra-hepatic manifestations and complications of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

This review article aims to synthesize the evidence regarding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a systemic disorder. We critically discuss the metabolic syndrome and its components; the cardiovascular and the endocrine system; chronic respiratory disorders; the musculoskeletal system; the skin; and extra-hepatic tumors. We conclude that, while some of these extra-hepatic conditions clearly predispose to the development of secondary forms of NAFLD (typically hypothyroidism-induced NAFLD), others result from pre-existent NAFLD (e.g., certain extra-hepatic tumors) and others (such as Type 2 Diabetes) have, with NAFLD, mutual and bidirectional associations. Analyzed data imply that NAFLD is not merely a hepatic disease. It is also and possibly more importantly, a systemic disorder requiring a special awareness, a multidisciplinary approach and a multidimensional vision.

A critical appraisal of the use of ultrasound in hepatic steatosis.

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) spans steatosis through nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD carries an increased risk of cardio-metabolic and liver-related events accounting for a substantial economic burden. Given that the natural history of NAFLD is critically dependent on the stage of fibrosis, non-invasively identifying the subgroup of patients at a higher risk of progressive disease is key. Areas covered: This review highlights the recent developments in the use of ultrasound-based techniques in NAFLD and their performance in predicting metabolic derangements, cardiovascular risk, and progression of liver disease, notably including diagnosis of fibrosing NASH, identification, and treatment of HCC. Expert opinion: Our ability to identify NAFLD patients and to estimate steatofibrosis with various ultrasound-based techniques has undergone tremendous progress over the last few years. However, it is more difficult to capture the inflammatory component of NASH with such ultrasound-assisted techniques. Moreover, semi-quantitative, quantitative, elastographic, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound techniques are increasingly being appreciated and made available but not all such techniques will gain success in the clinical and research area. Therefore, further research will precisely define the role of the most innovative ultrasonographic techniques, while reducing costs and increasing feasibility.

Pathogenesis of hypothyroidism-induced NAFLD: Evidence for a distinct disease entity?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disease worldwide, may be associated with primary hypothyroidism. However, the pathogenesis underlying such an association is complex and not completely understood. Here, we specifically discuss the pathogenic mechanisms potentially involved in hypothyroidism-induced NAFLD. To this end, we summarize the general pathophysiology of thyroid hormones (TH). Next, we analyze the published data from rodent studies by discussing whether hypothyroid rats may develop NAFLD via hyperphagia; whether mitochondria become energetically more efficient; what the overall energy balance is and if diversion of fatty substrates occurs; and the latest advancements in molecular pathogenesis brought about by metabolomics, cell imaging, lipophagy, autophagy and genetically engineered mouse models. Moreover, we discuss the data published regarding humans on the pathogenic role of TH, metabolic syndrome and other risk factors in hypothyroidism-related NAFLD as well as the putative mechanisms underlying the development of NAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma in hypothyroidism. In conclusion, although many research questions still remain unanswered, the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism-induced NAFLD makes this a potentially curable and distinct disease entity. However, further studies are needed to better elucidate the underlying mechanisms, and to ascertain whether treatment with either TH or thyromimetic agents improves NAFLD.