Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and steatohepatitis (MASH)

Extract

• Metabolic syndrome is a very important (and in some countries the most important) predictor of severe liver events.
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) covers a spectrum of diseases from pure (i.e. isolated) metabolic fatty liver to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), advanced fibrosis (MASLD and F3 or F4 fibrosis), and liver cirrhosis (MASLD and F4 fibrosis). MASLD also increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
• The probability of MASLD is higher the more components of metabolic syndrome a patient has.
• A person may have several risk factors for steatotic liver disease, such as metabolic syndrome and alcohol consumption.
• Pure fatty liver should not be looked for by imaging studies. Outpatient care should focus on identifying people with advanced fibrosis.
• Lifestyle guidance is of key importance in the treatment of MASLD.
• See also the articles on Assessing patients with abnormal liver function test results Assessing a patient with an abnormal liver function test result1 and Metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome2.

Read full article of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and steatohepatitis (MASH)

Search terms

ALT, AST, Alcohol, Aminotransferases, Diet, Fatty liver, Fatty liver disease, Fructose, Gastroenterology, Internal medicine, K73.80, K76.0, Life style, Lifestyle, Lifestyle changes, Lifestyle counselling, Liver, Liver biopsy, Liver disease, Liver enzymes, Living habits, MASH, MASLD, NAFL, NAFLD, NASH, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Steatohepatitis, Transaminases, Ultrasonography, Weight management, Weight reduction