History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Based on the assumption that characterizing the history of a disease will help in improving practice while offering a clue to research, this article aims at reviewing the history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults and children. To this end, we address the history of NAFLD histopat...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/16/5888 |
| _version_ | 1797557816108515328 |
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| author | Amedeo Lonardo Simona Leoni Khalid A. Alswat Yasser Fouad |
| author_facet | Amedeo Lonardo Simona Leoni Khalid A. Alswat Yasser Fouad |
| author_sort | Amedeo Lonardo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Based on the assumption that characterizing the history of a disease will help in improving practice while offering a clue to research, this article aims at reviewing the history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults and children. To this end, we address the history of NAFLD histopathology, which begins in 1980 with Ludwig’s seminal studies, although previous studies date back to the 19th century. Moreover, the principal milestones in the definition of genetic NAFLD are summarized. Next, a specific account is given of the evolution, over time, of our understanding of the association of NAFLD with metabolic syndrome, spanning from the outdated concept of <i>“NAFLD as a manifestation of the Metabolic Syndrome”</i>, to the more appropriate consideration that NAFLD has, with metabolic syndrome, a mutual and bi-directional relationship. In addition, we also report on the evolution from first intuitions to more recent studies, supporting NAFLD as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This association probably has deep roots, going back to ancient Middle Eastern cultures, wherein the liver had a significance similar to that which the heart holds in contemporary society. Conversely, the notions that NAFLD is a forerunner of hepatocellular carcinoma and extra-hepatic cancers is definitely more modern. Interestingly, guidelines issued by hepatological societies have lagged behind the identification of NAFLD by decades. A comparative analysis of these documents defines both shared attitudes (e.g., ultrasonography and lifestyle changes as the first approaches) and diverging key points (e.g., the threshold of alcohol consumption, screening methods, optimal non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and drug treatment options). Finally, the principal historical steps in the general, cellular and molecular pathogenesis of NAFLD are reviewed. We conclude that an in-depth understanding of the history of the disease permits us to better comprehend the disease itself, as well as to anticipate the lines of development of future NAFLD research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:21:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e1fe4be47f34f3891e5b506c0a162ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:21:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e1fe4be47f34f3891e5b506c0a162ab2023-11-20T10:19:15ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672020-08-012116588810.3390/ijms21165888History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseAmedeo Lonardo0Simona Leoni1Khalid A. Alswat2Yasser Fouad3Ospedale Civile di Baggiovara, UOC Medicina Metabolica, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna Generale, d’Urgenza e post Acuzie, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Via Giardini 1135, 41125 Modena, ItalyInternal Medicine Unit, Department of Digestive Diseases, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40136 Bologna, ItalyLiver Research Center, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11322, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endemic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minya 19111, EgyptBased on the assumption that characterizing the history of a disease will help in improving practice while offering a clue to research, this article aims at reviewing the history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults and children. To this end, we address the history of NAFLD histopathology, which begins in 1980 with Ludwig’s seminal studies, although previous studies date back to the 19th century. Moreover, the principal milestones in the definition of genetic NAFLD are summarized. Next, a specific account is given of the evolution, over time, of our understanding of the association of NAFLD with metabolic syndrome, spanning from the outdated concept of <i>“NAFLD as a manifestation of the Metabolic Syndrome”</i>, to the more appropriate consideration that NAFLD has, with metabolic syndrome, a mutual and bi-directional relationship. In addition, we also report on the evolution from first intuitions to more recent studies, supporting NAFLD as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This association probably has deep roots, going back to ancient Middle Eastern cultures, wherein the liver had a significance similar to that which the heart holds in contemporary society. Conversely, the notions that NAFLD is a forerunner of hepatocellular carcinoma and extra-hepatic cancers is definitely more modern. Interestingly, guidelines issued by hepatological societies have lagged behind the identification of NAFLD by decades. A comparative analysis of these documents defines both shared attitudes (e.g., ultrasonography and lifestyle changes as the first approaches) and diverging key points (e.g., the threshold of alcohol consumption, screening methods, optimal non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and drug treatment options). Finally, the principal historical steps in the general, cellular and molecular pathogenesis of NAFLD are reviewed. We conclude that an in-depth understanding of the history of the disease permits us to better comprehend the disease itself, as well as to anticipate the lines of development of future NAFLD research.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/16/5888cryptogenic cirrhosisgeneticsguidelineshistory of medicinehepatocellular carcinomahistopathology |
| spellingShingle | Amedeo Lonardo Simona Leoni Khalid A. Alswat Yasser Fouad History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease International Journal of Molecular Sciences cryptogenic cirrhosis genetics guidelines history of medicine hepatocellular carcinoma histopathology |
| title | History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease |
| title_full | History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease |
| title_fullStr | History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease |
| title_short | History of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease |
| title_sort | history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease |
| topic | cryptogenic cirrhosis genetics guidelines history of medicine hepatocellular carcinoma histopathology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/16/5888 |
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