The Diagnostic Significance of Human Patatin Like Phospholipase Domain Containing Protein 3, PNPLA3 versus Fibro scan in Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Abstract

on-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most prevalent cause of liver disease. The development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis identifies an at-risk group with increased risk of cardiovascular and liver-related deaths. The identification and management of this at-risk group remains a clinical challenge. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for characterizing liver histology in patients with NAFLD. However, it is expensive and carries some morbidity and very rare mortality risk. Thus, it should be performed in those who would benefit the most from diagnostic, therapeutic guidance, and prognostic perspectives. Several studies confirmed that the I148M variant predisposes towards the full spectrum of liver damage associated with fatty liver: from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis and progressive fibrosis. a novel physical parameter based on the properties of ultrasonic signals acquired by the FibroScan® (Echosens, Paris, France) has been developed using the postulate that fat affects ultrasound propagation. This novel parameter, named Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP), measures the ultrasound attenuation at the centre frequency of the FibroScan.