According to the AASLD, the diagnosis of NAFLD requires evidence of hepatic steatosis on imaging or histologic findings, no significant alcohol consumption, no competing etiologies for hepatic steatosis, and no coexisting causes of chronic liver disease. When evaluating a patient with suspected NAFLD, the AASLD recommends that a liver biopsy be considered in the presence of persistently high serum ferritin levels and increased iron saturation. This is particularly true in the context of homozygote or heterozygote C282Y HFE mutations. Liver biopsy should also be considered in patients with suspected NAFLD in whom competing etiologies for HS and the presence and/or severity of coexisting chronic liver diseases cannot be excluded without a liver biopsy.
According to AASLD guidelines, systemic screening of family members diagnosed with NAFLD is not recommended at this time. Routine screening for NAFLD in high-risk groups attending diabetes clinics, obesity clinics, or primary care facilities is also not recommended at this time, owing to the uncertainties surrounding diagnostic tests and treatment options. The long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness of screening are also uncertain.
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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: B.S. Anand. Fast Five Quiz: Liver Disease - Medscape - Aug 16, 2019.
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