β-Klotho gene variation is associated with liver damage in children with NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of liver damage worldwide.[1] The histologic spectrum of NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and eventually progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).[2,3] NAFLD is a multifactorial disease where environmental factors, such as an excessive caloric intake and a sedentary lifestyle, and genetic factors interact with each other triggering the metabolic and hepatic events that predispose to liver fat accumulation and progressive liver disease.

Source: Journal of Hepatology - October 22, 2019 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Paola Dongiovanni, Annalisa Crudele, Nadia Panera, Ilaria Romito, Marica Meroni, Cristiano De Stefanis, Alessia Palma, Donatella Comparcola, Anna Ludovica Fracanzani, Luca Miele, Luca Valenti, Valerio Nobili, Anna Alisi Source Type: research