Author information
1Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
2Yale Liver Center, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
3Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. joseph.lim@yale.edu.
4Yale Liver Center, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. joseph.lim@yale.edu.
5Section of Digestive Diseases and Liver Center, 333 Cedar Street, LMP 1080, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. joseph.lim@yale.edu.
Abstract
Purpose of review: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common chronic liver disease affecting 30% of the global population. In this article, we summarize current expert guidelines, review clinical practice implications, and provide insight into the utility of non-invasive tests (NITs).
Recent findings: The burden of MASLD is growing with the obesity epidemic, yet disease awareness and diagnosis is low. Patients can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly NASH), which can advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and liver cancer. NITs help identify high-risk patients who may benefit from specialty referral and MASH-directed therapy. Global societies offer various recommendations for the screening and diagnosis of MASLD utilizing evidence-based, widely accessible methods such as serum indices, NITs, and liver biopsy. Several targeted steatotic liver disease (SLD) screening tools and novel therapies are under development.