Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reaching epidemic proportions in our society and is the most common etiology for patients presenting with elevated liver enzymes. Given the significant numbers of patients presenting with NAFLD, it is important to distinguish between simple fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Whereas simple fatty liver is thought to have a benign prognosis generally, NASH may progress to cirrhosis in a subset of patients. Performance of liver biopsies in all NAFLD patients is not feasible but recent studies have identified several clinical factors that may predict the patients at greatest risk for NASH and advanced fibrosis, and thus biopsy procedures may be confined to the patients meeting these criteria. Treatment remains focused on improving the underlying insulin resistance that is invariably present in the majority of patients. Diet and exercise remain the cornerstone of therapy, but insulin-sensitizing medication and other agents aimed at reducing oxidative stress or fibrosis may be considered as further studies demonstrating efficacy become available.