Seminar

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cardiovascular risk by metabolic subtype

Prof. José María Mato

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 25% of adult population with the associated metabolic abnormalities conferring increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). NAFLD is a complex heterogenous disease with histological features reflecting an imbalance in hepatic lipid metabolism (de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid (FA) uptake, oxidation and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion) caused by multiple nutritional and environmental factors acting on a susceptible genetic background. Metabolomic signatures obtained by analyzing an international cohort of 1099 patients identify 3 NAFLD subgroups based on lipid profile. These are independent of histological disease severity but align to known CVD risk factors that may account for the observed inter-patient variation in hepatic vs. cardiovascular outcomes. If validated, it provides a novel, clinically relevant, risk stratification.