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Histological Biomarkers of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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Biomarkers in Liver Disease

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Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important complication of the metabolic syndrome, which is becoming an increasingly common cause of chronic liver disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is characterized by a wide spectrum of conditions and covers a histological spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis.

Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for characterizing liver histology in patients with NAFLD; however, it is expensive and carries some morbidity and very rare mortality risk, so it should be performed in those who would benefit the most from diagnostic, therapeutic guidance, and prognostic perspectives.

In this regard, the aim of this chapter will be to examine histological biomarkers of NAFLD in order to give readers a guide about diagnosis and follow-up of this kind of disease.

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Abbreviations

HSC:

Hepatic stellate cell

NAFL:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver

NAFLD:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

NASH:

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, P.le C. Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Derosa & Pamela Maffioli

  2. Center for the Study of Endocrine-Metabolic Pathophysiology and Clinical Research, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Derosa

  3. Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Derosa

  4. Center for Prevention, Surveillance, Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Derosa & Pamela Maffioli

  5. PhD School in Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Pamela Maffioli

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Derosa
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  2. Pamela Maffioli
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Derosa or Pamela Maffioli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sciences Division, King's College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

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Derosa, G., Maffioli, P. (2016). Histological Biomarkers of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. In: Preedy, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Liver Disease. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7742-2_23-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7742-2_23-1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7742-2

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