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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an underrecognized cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Clark, JM; Diehl, AM
Published in: JAMA
June 11, 2003

Cryptogenic cirrhosis is a common cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now recognized as the most common cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis. However, the diagnosis of cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD appears to be delayed compared with those with other chronic liver diseases and thus carries a higher mortality rate. This delay in diagnosis is illustrated in our case of a 53-year-old man who presented with hepatic hydrothorax and ascites, whose workup revealed cirrhosis due to NAFLD. Although a diagnosis of presumed NAFLD can be made noninvasively, a definitive diagnosis requires a liver biopsy specimen. A biopsy specimen is also important for detecting histologically advanced disease, which may be clinically silent and undetected by aminotransferases or diagnostic imaging. Although there are no proven treatments, recommendations for patients with NAFLD include avoidance of hepatotoxins and aggressive management of associated conditions, such as hypertriglyceridemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Published In

JAMA

DOI

EISSN

1538-3598

Publication Date

June 11, 2003

Volume

289

Issue

22

Start / End Page

3000 / 3004

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase
  • Transaminases
  • Pleural Effusion
  • Obesity
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Hypertension, Portal
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Clark, J. M., & Diehl, A. M. (2003). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an underrecognized cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis. JAMA, 289(22), 3000–3004. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.22.3000
Clark, Jeanne M., and Anna Mae Diehl. “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an underrecognized cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis.JAMA 289, no. 22 (June 11, 2003): 3000–3004. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.22.3000.
Clark JM, Diehl AM. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an underrecognized cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis. JAMA. 2003 Jun 11;289(22):3000–4.
Clark, Jeanne M., and Anna Mae Diehl. “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an underrecognized cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis.JAMA, vol. 289, no. 22, June 2003, pp. 3000–04. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/jama.289.22.3000.
Clark JM, Diehl AM. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an underrecognized cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis. JAMA. 2003 Jun 11;289(22):3000–3004.
Journal cover image

Published In

JAMA

DOI

EISSN

1538-3598

Publication Date

June 11, 2003

Volume

289

Issue

22

Start / End Page

3000 / 3004

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase
  • Transaminases
  • Pleural Effusion
  • Obesity
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Hypertension, Portal
  • Humans