Implications of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis as the Cause of End-Stage Liver Disease Before and After Liver Transplant

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the clinically aggressive variant of NAFLD and has a propensity for fibrosis progression and cirrhosis. The prevalence of NAFLD and NASH is projected to increase rapidly in the near future and dramatically add to the already substantial health care burden. Cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease resulting from NASH is now the fastest growing indication for liver transplant (LT) in the United States. Patients with NASH cirrhosis have higher prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases. Following LT, recurrence of NAFLD and NASH is common.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; Liver fibrosis; Liver transplant; NAFLD; NASH.