NAFLD and NASH Part II Flashcards
Wha may excess fat and fructose within the diet lead to?
Intestinal dysbiosis
Describe intestinal dysbiosis and how it relates to NAFLD
Microbes slip through the intestinal epithelium, as there is increased intestinal permeability, and will contribute to fatty and apoptotic hepatocytes and fibrosis
The severity of nonalcoholic fatty-liver disease is associated with what? (2)
- Gut dysbiosis
- Shift in the metabolic function of the gut microbiota
What is diagnostic of NASH?
Inflammation and steatosis
What indicates that NASH has progressed?
Liver fibrosis, staging, cirrhosis
NAFLD can sometimes be ____
a slient disease
How is NAFLD usually discovered?
Incidental LFT, bright liver on imaging or hepatomegaly during routine check ups
NAFLD is _____ and frequently ___
frequent
aysmptomatic
79% with NAFLD have normal/abnormal ALT
NORMAL
What is the be considered about ALT and NAFLD?
That both high and normal ALT levels can be associated with the progression of the disease, and no cut-off designated for predicting NASH or advanced fibrosis
We know that ALT is inaccurate is assessing NAFLD, what are other ways to asses? (3)
- Biopsy
- Imaging
- Biomarkers
How does transient elastrography (fibroscan) work?
The stiffer the liver, the FASTER the shear wave propagate the underlying tissue, measuring CAP (Controlled Attenuation Paramete)
_____ is the single most important predictor of mortality
Fibrosis
Describe the increasing prognostic value
Ballooning –> NASH –> Portal inflammation –> Fibrosis –>Advanced fibrosis
What increases with fibrotic stage?
Liver-related and all-cause mortality
What is the essential test for diagnosing NASH?
Liver biopsy showing steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning and lobular inflammation
Why is it unadvised to use clinical, biochemical or imaging measures when diagnosing NASH?
Cannot distinguish NASH from steatosis
NAFLD can progress to ___
NASH
Clinical predictors of NASH in patients with NAFLD?
- Advanced Age
- Sex
- Race
- HTN, central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance/diabetes
- AST/ALT ration >1, low platelets
- Persistently elevated ALT
Advanced age?
Greater duration of disease
Sex?
Post-menopausal women experience accelerated disease
Race?
Incr. in hispanic, asian and decr. in blacks
HTN, central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance/diabetes?
Increase risk wih MetS
60% prevalence of fibrosis if older that 50 y/o AND obese or diabetic?
If pt initially presents with NAFLD
Persistently elevated ALT?
Greater risk of disease progression
Gold standard of NAFLD diagnosis?
Liver biopsy
Discuss the importance of lifestyle in NAFLD
Unhealthy lifestyle will play a role in the development and progression of NAFLD. Assessment of dietary and PA habits is part of comprehensive NAFLD screening.
____ is needed for NASH improvement
Weight-loss
Weight loss >/= 10?
Reduces fibrosis in 45% of cases
Weight-loss >/= 7% ?
NASH resolution in 64-90%
Weight loss >/= 5% ?
Reduces ballooning/inflammation in 41-100%