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Incorporation of a Survivable Liver Biopsy Procedure in Mice to Assess Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis NASH Resolution
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Cryptogenic cirrhosis and NASH: entities in evolution and involution
Tropical Gastroenterology : Official Journal of the Digestive Diseases Foundation
|December 5, 2014
Summary
Cryptogenic cirrhosis may be closely linked to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Future advancements in diagnostics and understanding NASH pathogenesis will likely identify NASH-associated cirrhosis as the primary cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology and Gastroenterology
- Metabolic and Liver Diseases
Background:
- Cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC) is a diagnosis of exclusion, with its underlying causes poorly understood.
- Recent evidence suggests a strong association between CC and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Discussion:
- Observed fat disappearance in NASH-associated cirrhosis, steatosis in CC explants, and NASH recurrence in CC allografts support this link.
- The co-occurrence of CC with diabetes and obesity further strengthens the connection to metabolic dysfunction and NASH.
Key Insights:
- CC may be more frequently associated with NASH than previously believed.
- Subsets of CC patients may still have other underlying etiologies.
- Advancements in understanding NASH pathogenesis are crucial for clarifying CC's causes.
Outlook:
- Development of reliable biomarkers for NASH is anticipated.
- Improved diagnostic tools and a deeper understanding of NASH are expected to reclassify the majority of CC cases.
- NASH-associated cirrhosis is poised to become recognized as the predominant cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis.
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