임상 및 생화학적 지표에 기반한 비알코올성 지방간의 진단

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common metabolic liver disorders, and its incidence is expected to increase rapidly in the future as the rate of obesity increases and populations age. The gold standard for diagnosing NAFLD is liver biopsy, which involves sample error, high cost, and can be complicated due to its invasive nature. Therefore, many studies have been reported to establish accurate and convenient models to detect NAFLD using clinical and laboratory parameters. Most were derived from relatively small number of subjects and lack external validation, especially in the Korean population. This article summarizes the established and emerging risk factors for NAFLD and reviews non-invasive diagnostic algorithms for NAFLD including hepatic fibrosis.