Med. praxi. 2011;8(7):321-324

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, possibilities of diagnosis and treatment of keratin fragments

prof.MUDr.Jan Lata, CSc.¹, MUDr.Veronika Příbramská²

¹ Interní klinika Lékařské fakulty Ostravské Univerzity Ostrava a FN Ostrava

² Interní hepatogastroenterologická klinika FN Brno

Fatty liver disease that develops in the absence of alcohol abuse is increasingly recognised as a major health burden. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

is disease that histologically mimics alcoholic hepatitis. The diagnostic criteria continue to evolve and rely on the histologic

findings of steatosis, hepatocellular injury including lobular inflammation and the pattern of fibrosis in patients with minimal intake of

ethanol (< 20 g ethanol/day). Recently has been studied extensively as it is relatively frequent, and might lead to the development of liver

cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathophysiologic basis is thought to be insulin resistance and this disease is considered to

be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Exact non-invasive diagnosis is difficult and studies with keratin fragments

seems to be promising. Weight loss is up to now the only effective treatment.

Keywords: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, keratin fragments, insulin-resistance, metabolic syndrome

Published: August 1, 2011  Show citation