Pharmacological Options for NASH

Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming the leading cause of chronic liver disease and a major health issue owing to its close association with the worldwide epidemics of obesity and diabetes [1]. A significant proportion of patients can experience disease progression with the occurrence of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease [2]. This results in an increase in the overall and liver-related mortality [3, 4]. Patients at risk of disease progression need to be identified as not all individuals with metabolic risk factors will experience disease progression [5]. Prognostic markers have mostly been derived from histological studies and found that the degree of inflammation is the strongest and independent predictor for fibrosis progression [6]. Thus, therapies that could reduce liver inflammation would be the most meaningful option to control this disease.