Tag Archives: NAFLD

Liver Updates: Statin Protection from HCC, PSVD -new name, novel finding and Hypothyroidism with Hepatic Hemangiomas

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B Zou et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21: 435-444. Open Access! Statin Use and Reduced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This study, in agreement with prior studies of individuals with chronic liver disease, showed that statin use is associated with a lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in NAFLD as well, with a Hazard Ratio of 0.47 in a database with 272,431 adults with NAFLD. The authors note the concern about hepatotoxicity from statins; however, “severe liver injury from statins is fairly low. Indeed, the incidence of lovastatin-associated fulminant liver failure is about 2 in a million users.”

Related blog posts:

J Shan et al. Hepatology 2023; 77:501-511. Open access! Genetic predisposition to porto‐sinusoidal vascular disorder: A functional genomic‐based, multigenerational family study

Porto‐sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD; also previously described as idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension [NCPH]…”is a group of liver vascular diseases featuring lesions encompassing the portal venules and sinusoids unaccompanied by cirrhosis, irrespective of the presence/absence of portal hypertension. It can occur secondary to coagulation disorders or insult by toxic agents. However, the cause of PSVD remains unknown in most cases.”

Key findings:

  • In a group of 4 patients, a novel heterozygous mutation in the FCHSD1 gene was identified but not in 2 familial controls.
  • When this variant was introduced in mice using CRISPR, ” Nine out of the 15 mice carrying the human FCHSD1 R183W variant mimicked the phenotype of human PSVD, including splenomegaly and enlarged portal vein.”
  • Aberrant FCHSD1 structure and function led to mTOR pathway overactivation

Related blog post: Time to Adjust the Knowledge Doubling Curve in Hepatology

MA Siano et al. JPGN Reports. 2022; 3(4):p e270,.  Consumptive Hypothyroidism due to Hepatic Hemangiomas: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

“Consumptive hypothyroidism (CH) is a rare form of hypothyroidism due to thyroid hormone inactivating enzyme type 3 (Deiodinase) overexpressed by hepatic/hepatic and cutaneous hemangiomas, and occasionally by some other extrahepatic visceral hemangiomas…Pediatric hepatologists should recognize the importance of periodical assessments of thyroid function in patients with hepatic hemangiomas”

“MRI of the abdomen in one of our patients (patient 1), before (A) and after (B) 19 months of treatment with propranolol/10 months of treatment with levothyroxine. The T2-weighted axial MRI images shows the regression of a diffuse infantile hepatichemangioma with innumerable T2 hyperintense masses throughout the liver with central hypointense central regions.”

Pediatric Fatty Liver Disease is a Reversible Disease

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S Lefere et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20: 2317-2326. Open Access! Intensive Lifestyle Management Improves Steatosis and Fibrosis in Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

In this prospective study with 204 children with severe obesity, intensive lifestyle changes were implemented. Key findings:

  • After 6 months, the median body weight loss was 16.0% in the 167 patients evaluated
  • Fibrosis improved in 75.0% (P < .001) (33% had F2 or higher fibrosis at baseline per elastography)
  • Fasting serum alanine aminotransferase and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance decreased significantly over the 1-year period (P < .001)

T Khurana et al. J Pediatr 2022; 250: 61-66. Clinically Meaningful Body Mass Index Change Impacts Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

In this retrospective study with 784 children, Key findings:

  • Of these children, 168 (31%) had a BMIz (BMI z-score) change of >−.25 from baseline over a median of 367 days (IQR, 201-678 days). Thus, ~1/3rd of children achieved a drop in BMIz with lifestyle advice
  • A BMIz reduction of >.25 was associated with significant improvements in serum aminotransferase levels.

My take: These pediatric studies replicate similar findings from adult studies showing that modest reductions in weight are associated with improvement in NAFLD. However, most patients are not successful with lifestyle advice which underscores the need for pharmacotherapy.

Related blog posts:

Siesta Key, FL

How Much Testing Is Needed In Children with Suspected Fatty Liver?

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F Al-Harthy et al. JPGN Reports 2022; Volume 3 – Issue 2 – p e181. doi: 10.1097/PG9.0000000000000181. Open Access: Evaluation of Hepatitis in Pediatric Patients With Presumed Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

In this single-center retrospective study (2017–2020), the authors reviewed the extent of testing and yield in children with suspected NAFLD. Criteria:

  • BMI >85th percentile
  • Persistently (>3 months) elevated ALT more than twice the ULN for age
  • Radiographic (ultrasound, computed tomography, and MRI) features of hepatic steatosis.

Key findings:

  • Eleven (11.6%) patients were ultimately diagnosed with a condition resulting from their abnormal bloodwork: infectious hepatitis (3, 9.8%), thyroid disease (2, 3.4%), celiac disease (4, 7.7%), AIH (1, 1.7%; diagnosis based on liver biopsy), and A1AT deficiency (1, 2.0%). It is likely that the yield would have been higher if all patients had more extensive testing
  • Only 9.5% of patients had comprehensive, additional testing performed per the 2017 North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines: infectious hepatitis serologies (Hepatitis A virus IgM, Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti–Hepatitis C virus), thyroid studies (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]), ceruloplasmin, A1AT, liver autoantibodies (antinuclear antibody; anti-smooth muscle antibody; liver kidney microsome type 1 antibody), tissue transglutaminase IgA (TTG-IgA), total IgA, total IgG, and LAL blood spot
  • The costs of performing the recommended testing was estimated as $397.30 Canadian dollars

My take: In those with persistently elevated liver enzymes, additional blood tests are important to evaluate for chronic liver diseases, even in those suspected of NAFLD.

Related blog posts on fatty liver disease:

Shem Creek, SC

Autoantibodies Significance in Pediatric Fatty Liver Disease

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A Khayat, B Vitola et al. J Pediatr 2021; 239: 155-160. Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Autoantibodies in Children with Overweight and Obesity with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

When investigating elevated liver enzymes in teenagers, serology for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is frequently obtained. In the face of overweight/obesity, the majority will have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL). How many with elevated autoantibodies actually have autoimmune liver disease (ALD)? Some information regarding this issue is available in the article by Khayat et al.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study of 181 children with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of NAFL, NASH, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and a body mass index (BMI) >85th percentile treated between 2007 and 2016.

Key findings:

  • Antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-actin antibody, and anti–liver kidney microsomal (LKM) antibody were positive in 16.1%, 13.8%, and 0%, respectively, of the patients with NAFL and in 32.8%, 15.5%, and 0%, respectively, of those with NASH
  • Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) was elevated in 27.3% of the patients with NAFL and in 47.7% of those with NASH, but in 100% of those with ALD. A normal IgG level was the “strongest negative predictor of ALD, followed by a negative ANA and actin.”
  • The positive predictive value of LKM was 100% for ALD but only 29% for ANA and 46% for anti-actin antibody. ANA positivity in this cohort was associated with more insulin resistance
  • ALD was present in 29/181 (16%).  12 (6.6%) with isolated ALD (AIH, PSC, or overlap), and 17 (9.4%) with combined ALD and NAFLD
  • BMI >98% “appears to be an important breakpoint above which ALD is less likely” even when IgG is high with a positive ANA
  • Limitations: Retrospective study, not every patient had all of the ALD serology tests

My take: Even heavy kids may have autoimmune liver disease. In those with abnormal serology, about 1 in 6 will have ALD, either in combination with NAFL or as the sole etiology of abnormal LFTs.

Related blog posts:

Does It Matter If Fatty Liver Disease Is Called MAFLD or NAFLD?

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H Lee, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 19: 2138-2147. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Incident Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Nationwide Cohort Study

A recent study from South Korea with 9.5 million participants (followed for 10 years) shows that changing to metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) as a name change from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) changes the prevalence of at-risk individuals.

Key findings:

  • Prevalence of NAFLD and MAFLD were 28.0% and 37.3%, respectively
  • NAFLD and MAFLD were each associated with significantly higher risk for CVD events: multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for CVD events were 1.09 (1.03-1.15) in the NAFLD-only group, 1.43 (1.41-1.45) in the MAFLD-only group, and 1.56 (1.54-1.58) in the Both-FLD group
  • In the same issue, a study from Hong Kong showed similar prevalence rates between MAFLD (25.9%) and NAFLD (25.7%) (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 19: 2161-2171). This study noted that many people with hepatic steatosis at baseline have less severe metabolic burden.
  • Also, in the same issue, using a well-define population of more than 13,000 from NHANES III, this retrospective study (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 19: 2172-2181) found that Non-NAFLD MAFLD patients had the highest all-cause and cardiovascular-cause related mortality. In addition, this group had the highest rate of advanced fibrosis >7% (compared to <2% in other groups.

My take (borrowed from authors of first study): “The change from NAFLD to MAFLD criteria may identify a greater number of individuals with metabolically complicated fatty liver and increased risk for CVD.”

Another related article: M Eslam, AJ Sanyal, J George. MAFLD: A Consensus-Driven Proposed Nomenclature for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (2020). This article similar to a previous article (Improving Fatty Liver Nomenclature) suggests changing the name for NAFLD to MAFLD.

MAFLD Criteria in this study:

MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with one or more of the following:

  1. diabetes mellitus
  2. overweight/obesity (BMI >/= 23)
  3. at least 2 metabolic abnormalities: a) Waist circumference ≥90 cm in men and 80 cm in women. b) Blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg or under anti-hypertension therapy. c) High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) <40 mg/dL for males and <50 mg/dL for females. d) Triglyceride (TG) ≥150 mg/dL or specific drug treatment. e) fasting glucose ≥100 f) Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score ≥2.5; and g) Hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level >2 mg/L.

NAFLD Criteria in this study:

The presence of hepatic steatosis without 1. excessive drinking ( ≥30 g/day in men, ≥20 g/day in women) and 2. concomitant liver diseases

COVID-19, Vaccines and Liver Disease Plus AAP Declares Mental Health Emergency

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OK Fix et al. Hepatology 2021; 74: 1049-1064. Open Access. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Expert Panel Consensus Statement: Vaccines to Prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection in Patients With Liver Disease

“Remarkably safe and highly effective mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are now available for widespread use and should be given to all adult patients with CLD and LT recipients. The online companion document located at https://www.aasld.org/about-aasld/covid-19-resources will be updated as additional data become available regarding the safety and efficacy of other COVID-19 vaccines in development.”

A Saviano et al. Hepatology 2021; 74: 1088-1100. Open Access (Review) Liver Disease and Coronavirus Disease 2019: From Pathogenesis to Clinical Care

  • “The presence of liver injury is a surrogate marker for more severe disease and higher mortality in patients with COVID-19. An elevated AST level is the most robust predictor of poor outcome.”
  • “Liver injury and mortality in COVID-19 are likely multifactorial, driven by a sustained and excessive systemic release of proinflammatory and prothrombotic cytokines following SARS-CoV-2 infection, iatrogenic injury caused by DILI, hemodynamic changes associated with mechanical ventilation or vasopressor use, and worsening of underlying liver injury in those with CLD.”
  • “Risk of de novo liver injury appears limited in patients without CLD, and only rare cases of COVID-19–related ACLF [acute-on-chronic liver failure] were observed.”

Related blog post: Aspen Webinar 2021 Part 1: COVID-19 and the Liver (William Balistreri)

“COVID-19–related liver injury and mortality in patients who were hospitalized with and without chronic liver disease (CLD). Patients without CLD usually present with AST elevation, which correlates with ICU admission and mortality. Among patients with CLD, NAFLD has the highest risk of severe illness, ICU admission, and need for mechanical ventilation. Patients with cirrhosis are at risk for decompensation, and patients who are decompensated have a high risk of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and mortality.”–Abbreviations: CTP, Child-Turcotte-Pugh; ICU, intensive care unit.

Link to AAP News: AAP, AACAP, CHA declare national emergency in children’s mental health (Thanks to Ben Gold for passing this along)

  • “We are caring for young people with soaring rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality that will have lasting impacts on them, their families, their communities, and all of our futures,” said AACAP President Gabrielle A. Carlson, M.D. “We cannot sit idly by. This is a national emergency, and the time for swift and deliberate action is now.”
  • These organizations make several recommendations to policy makers including more access for mental health services. (I worry that we do not have sufficient numbers of qualified mental health practitioners to meet the challenge.)

Sacroiliitis, NAFLD, IMIDs -Concurring Problems with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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I Levine et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2021; 809-815. Prevalence, Predictors, and Disease Activity of Sacroiliitis Among Patients with Crohn’s Disease

Key findings in this cross-sectional retrospective study (n=258, median age 30 yrs):

  • Overall, 17% of patients had MRI evidence of sacroiliitis, of whom 73% demonstrated bone marrow edema.
  • Female gender, back pain, and later age of CD diagnosis were associated with sacroiliitis (P = 0.05, P < 0.001, P = 0.04, respectively).
  • Disease activity (clinical, endoscopic, and radiographic), disease location and CD therapy were not associated with sacroiliitis on MRE.
  • More than two-thirds with MRE evidence of sacroiliitis were never seen by a rheumatologist.

A Lin et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2021; 947-955. Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Key finding:

  • Data pooled from 27 studies showed the prevalence of NAFLD among IBD patients was 32% (substantial heterogeneity); this is “statistically significantly higher than the prevalence of NAFLD in the general population (25.2%; P < 0.001)”

M Attauabi et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2021; 927-939. Systematic Review with Meta-analysis: The Impact of Co-occurring Immune-mediated Inflammatory Diseases on the Disease Course of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

A total of 93 studies were identified, comprising 16,064 IBD patients with co-occurring IMIDs and 3,451,414 IBD patients without IMIDs. IMIDs included the following:

  • Unspecified autoimmune disease
  • Diabetes type 1
  • Asthma
  • Grave disease
  • Spondyloarthropathy
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Iridocyclitis
  • Uveitis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis
  • Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
  • Celiac disease
  • Pyoderma gangrenosum
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Autoimmune hepatitis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • Primary biliary cholangitis
  • Hashimoto thyroiditis
  • Episcleritis
  • Sjogren syndrome

Key findings: Patients with IBD and co-occurring IMIDs were at increased risk of having extensive colitis or pancolitis (risk ratio, 1.38; 95% Cl, 1.25–1.52; P < 0.01, I2 = 86%) and receiving IBD-related surgeries (risk ratio, 1.17; 95% Cl, 1.01–1.36; P = 0.03; I2 = 85%) compared with patients without IMIDs

Image below from Bahia Honda State Park (FL)

Increased Cancers with Fatty Liver Disease

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Z Wang et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 19: 788-796. Associations Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cancers in a Large Cohort in China

It is well-recognized that obesity/overweight increases the risk of cancer (related blog post: Cancer due to Overweight/Obesity). Wang et al provide data regarding cancer risk due specifically to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from a large prospective adult cohort (n=54,187). Key findings:

  • Prevalence of NAFLD, based on ultrasonography, was 32.3%.
  • NAFLD was associated with increased risk of all cancers (hazard ratio [HR], 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10–1.36; P = .0001), thyroid cancer (HR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.25–6.21; P = .01), and lung cancer (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02–1.49; P = .03).
  • Increased risk for colorectal cancer (HR, 1.96) and lung cancer (HR, 1.38) was demonstrated only in smokers.  An association between NAFLD and kidney cancer (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.03–2.40) was only observed in men without diabetes.
  • Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was increased only in those with elevated ALT values of 80 U/L or more (HR 8.08)

My take: This study shows that NAFLD increases the risk of cancer; much of this risk may be due to obesity/metabolic syndrome and associated chronic inflammation. Overall, cardiovascular disease in patients with NAFLD represents a higher risk for morbidity and mortality.

Related blog posts:

Peonies

Juice in Infancy and Fatty Liver Disease

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Briefly noted: ML Geurtsen et al. Hepatology 2021; 73: 560-570. Full text: Associations Between Intake of Sugar‐Containing Beverages in Infancy With Liver Fat Accumulation at School Age

Methods: In a population‐based prospective cohort study of 1,940 infants, we assessed sugar‐containing beverage intake (juice or soda) at 1 year with a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Liver fat fraction and NAFLD (liver fat fraction ≥5.0%) were assessed with MR. Key findings:

  • Compared to infants with <1.0 serving/day, those with >2.0 servings/day had the highest odds of NAFLD at 10 years of age (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.34, 6.83). This was independent of sugar‐containing beverage intake and body mass index at school age
  • Liver fat fraction greater than or equal to 5% in school-aged children was almost 3-fold higher in those who consumed more than two servings of juice per day at age 1 (4.0%) than in those who drank less than one per day (1.4%)
  • The associations between juice intake in infancy and NAFLD were strongest in children with overweight or obesity at age 10 and those in families with more limited education

Major strengths of this study are the population‐based prospective longitudinal design with a large sample size, with information on sugar‐containing beverage intake in infancy and liver fat fraction measured with MR at 10 years of age.

My take: Juice and other high sugar beverages (eg soda) should be avoided, particularly at younger ages.

Related blog posts:

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Best Practice for Fatty Liver Disease

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ZM younossi, KE Corey, JK Lim. Gastroenerol 2021; 160; 912-918. AGA Clinical Practice Update on Lifestyle Modification Using Diet and Exercise to Achieve Weight Loss in the Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Expert Review

Some of the Best Practice Advice Recommendations:

  • #1 “Lifestyle modification using diet and exercise to achieve weight loss is beneficial for all patients with nonalcoholic liver disease (NAFLD).”
  • #2 Weight loss leads to improvement. >5% wt loss can decrease steatosis, >7% can lead to resolution of NAFLD, >10% can stabilize or reduce fibrosis
  • #3 “Adults with NAFLD should follow the Mediterranean diet…as well as limit or eliminate consumption of commercially produced fructose”
  • #8 Evaluate for coexisting conditions, such as “obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease.”

Also another publication on fatty liver disease:

LF Chun et al. J Pediatr 2021: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.01.064. Hepatic Steatosis is Negatively Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Children

Related blog posts: