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Clinical usefulness of biochemical markers of liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIM: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and progresses to the end stage of liver disease. Biochemical markers of liver fibrosis are strongly associated with the degree of histological liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. However, data are few on the usefulness of markers in NAFLD patients. The aim of this study was to identify better noninvasive predictors of hepatic fibrosis, with special focus on markers of liver fibrosis, type VI collagen 7S domain and hyaluronic acid. METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients with histologically proven NAFLD were studied. RESULTS: The histological stage of NAFLD correlated with several clinical and biochemical variables, the extent of hepatic fibrosis and the markers of liver fibrosis were relatively strong associated. The best cutoff values to detect NASH were assessed by using receiver operating characteristic analysis: type VI collagen 7S domain > or =5.0 ng/mL, hyaluronic acid > or =43 ng/mL. Both markers had a high positive predictive value: type VI collagen 7S domain, 86% and hyaluronic acid, 92%. Diagnostic accuracies of these markers were evaluated to detect severe fibrosis. Both markers showed high negative predictive values: type VI collagen 7S domain (> or =5.0 ng/mL), 84% and hyaluronic acid (> or =50 ng/mL), 78%, and were significantly and independently associated with the presence of NASH or severe fibrosis by logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Both markers of liver fibrosis are useful in discriminating NASH from fatty liver alone or patients with severe fibrosis from patients with non-severe fibrosis.

Adult↗

Adaptation of subcellular glutathione detoxification system to stress conditions in choline-deficient diet induced rat fatty liver.

The response of fatty liver to stress conditions (t-butyl hydroperoxide [t-BH] or 36 h of fasting) was investigated by assessing intracellular glutathione (GSH) compartmentation and redox status, GSH peroxidase (GSH-Px) and reductase (GSSG-Rx) activities, lipid peroxidation (TBARs) and serum ALT levels in rats on a choline-deficient diet. Baseline cytosolic GSH was similar between fatty and normal livers, while the mitochondrial GSH content was significantly lower in fatty livers. With the except of cytosolic GSH-Px activity, steatosis was associated with significantly higher GSH-related enzymes activities. Liver TBARs and serum ALT levels were also higher. Administration of t-BH significantly decreased the concentration of cytosolic GSH, increased GSSG levels in all the compartments, and increased TBARs levels in cytosol and mitochondria and serum ALT; all these alterations were more marked in rats with fatty liver. Fasting decreased the concentration of GSH in all the compartments both in normal and fatty livers, increased GSSG, TBARs and ALT levels, and decreased by 50% the activities of GSH-related enzymes. Administration of diethylmaleimide (DEM) resulted in cytosolic and microsomal GSH pool depletion. Administration of t-BH to DEM-treated rats further affected cytosolic GSH and enhanced ALT levels, whereas the application of fasting to GSH depleted rats mainly altered the mitochondrial GSH system, especially in fatty livers. This study shows that fatty livers have a weak compensation of hepatic GSH regulation, which fails under stress conditions, thus increasing the fatty liver's susceptibility to oxidative damage. Differences emerge among subcellular compartments which point to differential adaptation of these organelles to fatty degeneration.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Electron microscopic study on the floating lipids of human liver. Lysosomal involvement in the fatty liver associated with diabetes mellitus.

Using fractionation, subcellular pathogenesis of the fatty liver was investigated. Floating lipids were isolated from a small amount of the liver obtained by needle biopsy. The volume of the floating lipids was correlated to the grading of fat infiltration of the intact tissue. Of lipid-rich particles bound by membranous structures, the volume of lipolysosomes in the patients with liver damage associated with diabetes mellitus was greater than that of alcoholics. Hypercholesterolemia was another feature characteristic of the liver disease exhibiting lipolysosome proliferation. These observations suggest a lysosomal involvement in fatty degeneration of the liver in diabetics through an overload of cholesterol.

Adult↗

[Relationship between fatty liver and coronary risk factors].

Fatty liver is a common finding in abdominal ultrasonographic examination in health check-ups, but the relationship between fatty liver and so-called coronary risk factors has rarely been investigated from the viewpoint of prevention of coronary heart disease. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate such a relationship by comparing the coronary risk factors with and without fatty liver by using data from health check-ups for the mid-management and management staff of a manufacturing company. The majority (77.1%) of those with fatty liver in the present study were categorized as "normal" or "marginally obese" and only a small portion (22.9%) were categorized as "obese" according to the classification of the body mass index. The group of subjects with fatty liver had significantly lower mean HDL-cholesterol and higher levels of fasting blood sugar, HDL/total cholesterol ratio, triglyceride, uric acid and transaminases, than those parameters in subjects without fatty liver, even after adjustment for age and body-mass index. The blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) and total cholesterol level did not show any significant difference after controlling the covariates. Our results indicated that fatty liver has a close correlation with the majority of coronary risk factors causing atheroscleotic diseases, and most of these relationships are independent of total body mass. Our results regarding fatty liver are a help to occupational health personnel when advising workers to reduce their own risk of atherogeic diseases.

Adult↗

Influence of gender, race, and ethnicity on suspected fatty liver in obese adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Fatty liver is a common cause of liver disease in children. However, the epidemiology of pediatric fatty liver is limited to single-center case series of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Obesity and insulin resistance are major established risk factors for NAFLD. The role of gender, race, and ethnicity on the prevalence of fatty liver in obese children is unknown. METHODS: We recruited obese 12th-grade participants from the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas. Serum samples were collected at school when the participants were well. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was measured by kinetic enzymatic assay, and ALT >40 U/L was defined as abnormal. Causes of abnormal ALT other than NAFLD were excluded by serum testing. RESULTS: A total of 127 obese students (73 female, 54 male) had a mean BMI of 35.2 kg/m2. Unexplained ALT elevation was present in 23% of participants overall. The mean ALT for participants with normal values was 28 U/L and for participants with an abnormal ALT was 56 U/L. Abnormal ALT was significantly more prevalent in boys (44%) than in girls (7%). The prevalence of abnormal ALT differed significantly by race and ethnicity (Hispanic: 36%; white: 22%; black: 14%). Serum ALT value was significantly predicted by the combination of gender, race/ethnicity, and BMI. After controlling for gender and BMI, Hispanic ethnicity significantly predicted greater ALT than black race. CONCLUSIONS: In a national, school-based sample of obese adolescents, boys were 6 times more likely than girls to have an unexplained elevated ALT. Given that participants were well and causes of chronic liver disease were excluded, we speculate that obese adolescent boys have an increased prevalence of fatty liver compared with obese adolescent girls. This population-based study also supports the hypothesis that NAFLD is more common in Hispanic adolescents. These findings have implications for both disease screening and studies of fatty liver pathophysiology.

Adolescent↗

Liver fibrosis in obese patients with fatty livers.

Liver fibrosis was observed in non-alcoholic, non-diabetic obese patients with fatty liver. The extent of fibrosis was more severe in patients who were obese for a long time and had severe fatty deposition in the liver. Laboratory data were not useful for differentiating between fatty livers with and without liver fibrosis. The results suggested that fatty liver in obese patients should be treated by weight reduction in order to prevent the progression of liver fibrosis.

Adolescent↗

Biotin deficiency and liver metabolism in relation to fatty liver and kidney syndrome.

Varying degrees of biotin deficiency were induced by adding freeze-dried, raw egg white to the diet of broiler chicks. Aspects of liver metabolism were studied with reference to fatty liver and kidney syndrome. Mortality was low with 11.8 g egg white/kg diet, or less, but with 17.7 g/kg or more, mortality was very high. High mortality was observed with less than 0.33 microgram biotin/g liver. Associated with low concentrations of liver biotin were substantial increases in liver weight and lipid content in starved birds. The increased liver lipid content was not observed in birds fed ad libitum. The increased liver lipid content in biotin-deficient, starved birds was not reflected in the specific activities of hepatic lipogenic enzymes or hepatic lipogenesis in vivo measured by the incorporation of tritium from 3H-labelled water into liver lipid. Biotin deficiency affected the specific activities of the biotin-requiring enzymes, pyruvate carboxylase and acetyl CoA carboxylase, differently; the latter was unaffected whereas the former decreased concomitantly with liver biotin concentration.

Animals↗

Lipid metabolism during lactation: a review of adipose tissue-liver interactions and the development of fatty liver.

Fatty acids are the major source of energy for most tissues during periods of negative energy balance; however, fatty acids can, in some circumstances, have pathological effects. Fatty acids are stored as triacylglycerols (TAG), mostly in the various adipose tissue depots of the body. However, if blood unesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels are elevated for prolonged periods, as may occur during lactation or obesity, TAG can accumulate in other tissues including liver and muscle cells (myocytes), and this can have pathological consequences such as the development of ketosis (Grummer, 1993; Drackley et al. 2001) or type 2 diabetes (Boden & Shulman, 2002; McGarry, 2002).

Adipose Tissue↗

Therapeutic Options in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, an entity that includes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, is typically a benign, indolent condition. However, in a subset of patients, the clinical course may progress to advanced cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis, natural history, and potential therapies for these disorders remain poorly understood. Identifying patients who should be targeted for potential treatment remains difficult. Liver biopsy should be considered to assess the degree of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, because physical examination findings, biochemical parameters, and the results of radiographic studies have been shown to correlate poorly with the severity of steatohepatitis and fibrosis. Although there is some evidence suggesting that obesity, diabetes mellitus, older age, and perhaps an aspartate transaminase:alanine aminotransaminase ratio higher than 1 may be predictors of more advanced fibrosis, histology remains the gold standard. Most patients with simple hepatic steatosis appear to follow a benign course and probably do not require aggressive therapy. Conversely, patients with steatohepatitis with extensive inflammation and fibrosis are the patients who are most likely to benefit from effective therapies. The most commonly recommended treatment is weight loss. Existing data suggest that rapid weight loss may promote hepatic inflammation and fibrosis; therefore, gradual weight loss should be recommended. Large, randomized, controlled trials evaluating the long-term histologic impact and clinical outcomes of weight loss strategies are lacking. Potentially promising pharmacologic therapies include insulin-sensitizing oral hypoglycemic agents such as metformin and the thiazolidenediols, antihyperlipidemic agents such as gemfibrozil or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, vitamin E and other antioxidants, ursodeoxycholic acid, and betaine. As with weight loss, data regarding the efficacy of these pharmacologic options are limited. In addition, there are no widely accepted guidelines to help direct the clinician in the optimal use of these agents in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases.

Journal Article↗

Orthotopic liver transplantation for acute liver failure resulting from "acute fatty liver of pregnancy".

Steatosis of the liver, demonstrating itself as the acute liver failure during the third trimester of pregnancy (Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy--AFLP) is a rarely observed liver pathology. Herewith we describe the case of a 19-years old pregnant patient with this rare disease. The authors present the clinical course, dynamics, diagnostics, and outcome of treatment in this unique case. In this patient the ultimate treatment chosen was the liver transplantation. The opinions, concerning liver transplantation in AFLP (expressed in the world literature) are somewhat controversial. This paper presents the first case of AFLP treatment with orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) in Poland.

Acute Disease↗

Tumor necrosis factor alpha promoter polymorphisms and insulin resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which can range from fatty liver alone to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, is related to insulin resistance. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) may induce insulin resistance, and polymorphisms of its promoter have been associated with an increased release of this cytokine. We analyzed (1) the prevalence of insulin resistance, (2) the prevalence of the 238 and 308 TNF-alpha polymorphisms, and (3) the relationship among TNF-alpha polymorphisms, insulin resistance, and the occurrence of steatohepatitis in 99 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diagnosed by ultrasonography and confirmed by histologic analysis in the 53 who underwent biopsy. METHODS: Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostatic metabolic assessment insulin resistance indices and TNF-alpha polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: Insulin resistance was detected in almost all of the patients and was more severe in those with steatohepatitis. The prevalence of the 238, but not of the 308, TNF-alpha polymorphism was higher in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver than in controls (31% vs. 15%; P < 0.0001), and patients positive for TNF-alpha polymorphisms had higher insulin resistance indices, a higher prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance, and a lower number of associated risk factors for steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: TNF-alpha polymorphisms could represent a susceptibility genotype for insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver, and steatohepatitis.

Adult↗

Oxidative stress-related parameters in the liver of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the present study, hepatic and plasma oxidative stress-related parameters were measured and correlated with clinical and histological findings in 31 NAFLD patients showing increased body mass index. Liver protein carbonyl content was enhanced by 403% in patients with steatosis (n=15) compared with control values (n=12), whereas glutathione content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were decreased by 57%, 48% and 21% (P<0.05) respectively. No changes in microsomal p-nitrophenol hydroxylation and the total content of cytochrome P450 (CYP) or CYP2E1 were observed. Patients with steatohepatitis (n=16) exhibited protein carbonyl content comparable with that of controls, whereas glutathione content, SOD and catalase activities were decreased by 27%, 64% and 48% (P<0.05). In addition, FRAP values in patients with steatohepatitis were reduced by 33% and 15% (P<0.05) when compared with controls and patients with steatosis respectively, whereas p-nitrophenol hydroxylation (52%) and CYP2E1 content (142%) were significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with controls. It is concluded that oxidative stress is developed in the liver of NAFLD patients with steatosis and is exacerbated further in patients with steatohepatitis, which is associated with CYP2E1 induction. Substantial protein oxidation is followed by proteolysis of the modified proteins, which may explain the co-existence of a diminished antioxidant capacity and protein oxidation in the liver of patients with steatohepatitis.

Adolescent↗

Computed tomographic and ultrasonographic findings in women with acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is associated with complications that can influence antepartum management and necessitate delivery. To date, liver biopsy has been regarded as the "gold standard" for diagnosis. Radiologic evaluation of the liver has been suggested as a less invasive means of diagnosing this entity. Five patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy underwent ultrasonography; three underwent concomitant computed tomography (CT) of the liver. The liver appeared to be normal in all the patients undergoing CT evaluation and all undergoing ultrasonography except one. Normal liver examinations are not unusual findings in patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Biopsy↗

Prevalence of fatty liver in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Fatty liver disease is diagnosed increasingly in children, but the prevalence remains unknown. We sought to determine the prevalence of pediatric fatty liver as diagnosed by histology in a population-based sample. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 742 children between the ages of 2 and 19 years who had an autopsy performed by a county medical examiner from 1993 to 2003. Fatty liver was defined as > or = 5% of hepatocytes containing macrovesicular fat. RESULTS: Fatty liver was present in 13% of subjects. For children and adolescents age 2 to 19 years, the prevalence of fatty liver adjusted for age, gender, race, and ethnicity is estimated to be 9.6%. Fatty liver prevalence increases with age, ranging from 0.7% for ages 2 to 4 up to 17.3% for ages 15 to 19 years. Fatty liver prevalence differs significantly by race and ethnicity (Asian: 10.2%; black: 1.5%; Hispanic: 11.8%; white: 8.6%). The highest rate of fatty liver was seen in obese children (38%). CONCLUSIONS: Fatty liver is the most common liver abnormality in children age 2 to 19 years. The presence of macrovesicular hepatic steatosis in approximately 1 of every 10 children has important ramifications for the long-term health of children and young adults. The influence of the risk factors identified should be taken into consideration in the development of protocols designed to screen at-risk children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Polyphenols from Camellia sinenesis prevent primary graft failure after transplantation of ethanol-induced fatty livers from rats.

Fatty liver caused by ethanol decreases survival after liver transplantation in rats. This study investigated if antioxidant polyphenols from Camellia sinenesis (green tea) prevent failure of fatty grafts from ethanol-treated rats. Donor rats were given ethanol intragastrically (6 g/kg). After 20 h, livers were explanted and stored in University of Wisconsin solution for 24 h. Prior to implantation, the explanted grafts were rinsed with lactated Ringer's solution containing 0 to 60 microg/ml polyphenols. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) release after liver transplantation was 4.5-fold higher in recipients receiving ethanol-induced fatty grafts than in those receiving normal grafts. Liver grafts from ethanol-treated donors also developed severe focal necrosis. Graft survival was 11% in the ethanol group versus 88% for normal grafts. Polyphenol treatment at 60 microg/ml blunted ALT release by 66%, decreased necrotic areas by 84%, and increased survival to 75%. Ethanol increased alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert.-butylnitrone free radical adducts in bile by 2.5-fold, as measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, and caused accumulation of 4-hydroxynonenal in liver sections, effects blunted by polyphenols. Epicatechin gallate, a major polyphenol from C. sinenesis, also decreased enzyme release, minimized pathological changes, and decreased free radical adduct formation. In conclusion, polyphenols scavenged free radicals in ethanol-induced fatty livers and decreased injury after liver transplantation.

Alanine Transaminase↗