No abstract

Heterogeneity in clinical presentation, histological severity, prognosis and therapeutic outcomes charac teristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) necessitates the development of scientifically sound classification schemes to assist clinicians in stratifying patients into meaningful prognostic subgroups. The need for replacement of invasive liver biopsies as the standard method whereby NAFLD is diagnosed, graded and staged with biomarkers of histological severity injury led to the development of composite prognostic models as potentially viable surrogate alternatives. In the present article, we review existing scoring systems used to (1) confirm the presence of undiagnosed hepatosteatosis; (2) distinguish between simple steatosis and NASH; and (3) predict advanced hepatic fibrosis, with particular emphasis on the role of NAFLD as an independent cardiometabolic risk factor. In addition, the incorporation of functional genomic markers and application of emerging imaging technologies are discussed as a means to improve the diagnostic accuracy and predictive performance of promising composite models found to be most appropriate for widespread clinical adoption. Composite prognostic models across the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease spectrum: Clinical application in developing countries have entered the clinical domain as potentially viable alternatives. Lifestylebased intervention remains the cornerstone of treatment in patients with NAFLD. The widespread clinical adoption of composite diagnostic and predictive models could however prove useful in informing clinical and therapeutic decision making with the goal of adding value to patient care across the NAFLD spectrum.Lückhoff HK, Kruger FC, Kotze MJ. Composite prognostic models across the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease spectrum:

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract