Addressing the rising prevalence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease 

Learn more about NAFLD, a leading cause of liver related mortality 

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition in which excess fat, not caused by heavy alcohol use, is stored in the liver. There are two types of NAFLD: simple fatty liver (simple steatosis) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). 

As new therapies become available, non-invasive testing is an important tool to help identify patients at risk of developing cirrhosis and liver-related clinical events (LREs). Learn more about the need for noninvasive tests and how the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF™) Test can help.

Several factors can lead to liver disease. Excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, hepatitis infections, and excessive consumption of medication could all contribute to an inflamed, and eventually fibrotic, liver.

infographic showing the causes of liver disease including excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, hepatitis infections, and excessive consumption of medication

Excessive alcohol consumption

Obesity

Excessive consumption of medication

Diabetes

Hepatitis infections

    Liver damage

    Illustration of a healthy liver and the lobular structure of the organ

    Normal liver

    Lobular structure of the liver

    The liver contains an estimated 1 to 1.5 million hepatic lobules with a diameter of 1-2mm.

    Hepatic lobules are small structural units composed of liver cells (hepatocytes).

    Inflamed Liver

    Inflamed liver 

    Formation of collagenous connective tissue

    If liver cells are chronically damaged—for example, by a prolonged inflammation—excessive collagenous connective tissue accumulates.

    Fibrotic Liver

    Fibrotic liver

    Hardening of the liver

    The connective tissue gradually replaces the actual liver cells. The organ becomes scarred and loses its elasticity and function.

    Progression of liver disease

    Click on each item to learn more about the stages and progression of liver disease. 

    How liver assessment works 

    Click on the cards below to learn about different types of liver assessment. 

    Illustration of probe during elastography

    Elastography

    A probe emits a mechanical pulse toward the liver. 

    Illustration of transducer during Elastography
    Elastography

    An integrated ultrasound transducer measures the velocity of the pulse wave between two points. The less elastic the liver tissue, the faster the pulse propagates through the liver.

    Illustration of a cannula taking a liver tissue sample

    Biopsy

    A tissue sample is taken from the liver with a cannula. 

    illustration of a microscope

    Biopsy

    The sample is then examined for scar tissue under a microscope. 

    illustration of a gloved medical progessional taking an intravenous blood draw

    The ELF Test

    A blood sample is taken. 

    illustration of  test tube

    The ELF Test

    Three important serum markers can be detected with an automated analyzer and the risk of disease progression can be derived from these. 

    Nurse administering blood test on a patient

    Among the current and growing number of NAFLD patients, there is an urgent need for the early and accurate identification of patients at risk of progressing to cirrhosis and liver-related events (LRE). Patients with mild disease are often inappropriately referred to secondary care for invasive investigations and undiagnosed patients remain in primary care until complications of cirrhosis develop.

    Click below to learn more about challenges in NAFLD patients.

    Assessment of liver fibrosis has traditionally relied on costly and invasive liver biopsy that requires a specialist, may not be representative of the amount of fibrosis, and carries a risk of life-threatening complications. ​Follow each step of the pathway from undiagnosed fibrosis to invasive assessment.

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