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Abstract Details
Clinical impact of sexual dimorphism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Liver Int. 2021 May 12. doi: 10.1111/liv.14943. Online ahead of print.
Patrizia Burra1, Debora Bizzaro1, Anna Gonta1, Sarah Shalaby1, Martina Gambato1, Maria Cristina Morelli2, Silvia Trapani3, Annarosa Floreani45, Fabio Marra6, Maurizia Rossana Brunetto7, Gloria Taliani8, Erica Villa9, Special Interest Group Gender in Hepatology of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF)
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Abstract
NAFLD/NASH is a sex dimorphic disease, with a general higher prevalence in men. Women are at reduced risk of NAFLD compared to men in fertile age, whereas after menopause women have a comparable prevalence of NAFLD as men. Indeed, sexual category, sex hormones and gender habits interact with numerous NAFLD factors including cytokines, stress, and environmental factors and alter the risk profiles and phenotypes of NAFLD. In the present review, we summarized the last findings about the influence of sex on epidemiology, pathogenesis, progression in cirrhosis, indication for liver transplantation and alternative therapies, including life styles modification and pharmacological strategies. We are confident that an appropriate consideration of sex, age, hormonal status, and sociocultural gender differences will lead to a better understanding of sex differences in NAFLD risk, therapeutic targets, and treatment responses and will aid in achieving sex-specific personalized therapies.