Updated diagnosis, treatment, and complications of the fatty liver disease

Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of liver fat. It has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide considered as a public health problem (global prevalence of 24-45%), diagnosis and treatment have become a real challenge due to the absence of characteristic symptoms and drugs that have been approved. Methodology:  An analysis of the most up-to-date literature available was carried out by compiling multiple sources of information from scientific articles, CPGs and systematic reviews of the last 5 years, using the search systems: Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, ResearchGate, Medigraphic and Cochrane Library Plus.  Results: NAFLD is a pathology whose prevalence increases in parallel to obesity and diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by the accumulation of fat in liver cells in those who do not have a history of high alcohol consumption and no other secondary cause is known. The diagnosis is made incidentally in most cases, the gold standard is liver biopsy, but the method of choice is ultrasound for its low cost and accessibility. At present there are new serological markers (NASH-CRN, NFS, SAF) that allow a timely diagnosis and follow-up for the control of the pathology. There is no definitive treatment. However, lifestyle changes and new drugs (cenicriviroc, elafibranor, obeticholic acid) based on pathophysiology allow to reduce steatosis and fibrosis. Conclusions: NAFLD is a prevalent pathology that requires a timely diagnosis that allows providing a comprehensive management of the pathology that prevents its progression and thus improves the quality of life of patients.