Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver transplantation

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by increased fat depositions in the liver while the patients do not have drinking history. NAFLD has a prevalence of 10%~40% in global, 25%~26% in Western populations. From 2004 to 2013, the numbers of new patients on the waitlist who had NASH increased by 170% in America. The prevalence of NAFLD in China is 20%. With the decrease of HBV and HCV and the increase of diabetes mellitus type 2 and obesity, NAFLD will become the most common chronic liver disease in China over the next 20 years. NAFLD related end-stage liver disease will become the most common indication of liver transplantation. In this paper, the epidemiological features, pathogenesis, indication and prognosis of liver transplantation are reviewed. Key words: Liver transplantation; Metabolic syndrome; Fatty liver, non-alcoholic