Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although many markers and noninvasive testing methods have been developed to determine liver diseases and their stages, liver biopsy still remains a gold standard. However, high morbidity, mortality, and surgical complications are associated with the procedure. This article discusses the patient selection criteria a clinician can refer to before finalizing a liver biopsy or therapy.
The prevalence of NAFLD in the Indian population is comparable to the west (5 to 28%). NAFLD has two subtypes, ranging from simple steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis. NAFLD is thought to be the hepatic consequence of systemic insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome characterized by obesity, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. Clinically it is important to distinguish…
