Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an emerging pathological spectrum

The spectrum of pathological lesions observed in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is wide and strongly resembles that of alcohol-induced liver disease. It ranges from fatty liver to steatohepatitis, progressive fibrosis and cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a possible complication of N...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 2004, Vol.444 (1), p.3-12
Main Author: ZAFRANI, Elie Serge
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology
Cytokines - biosynthesis
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications
Fatty Liver - complications
Fatty Liver - epidemiology
Fatty Liver - pathology
Fatty Liver - physiopathology
Genetic factors
Hepatitis C
Humans
Insulin Resistance
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Lesions
Liver
Liver cirrhosis
Liver Cirrhosis - pathology
Liver Neoplasms - pathology
Medical sciences
Metabolic disorders
Mitochondria, Liver - physiology
Obesity - complications
Oxidative Stress
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Public health
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Summary:The spectrum of pathological lesions observed in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is wide and strongly resembles that of alcohol-induced liver disease. It ranges from fatty liver to steatohepatitis, progressive fibrosis and cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a possible complication of NAFLD, but whether it is related to frequently associated metabolic disorders (e.g., overweight, diabetes) or to underlying cirrhosis is unclear. This disease is the result of a multi-factorial process in which insulin resistance seems to play a major role in the initial accumulation of fat in the liver, whereas multiple causes of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress can induce the secondary occurrence of necroinflammatory lesions and fibrosis. Genetic factors might explain why only some patients with simple steatosis will develop steatohepatitis and fibrosis. Due to the increasing prevalence of obesity in Western countries, NAFLD will possibly be a public health problem and the liver disease of the future.
ISSN:0945-6317
1432-2307
DOI:10.1007/s00428-003-0943-7