Correlation between Fibrosis 4 and liver biopsy in lean Egyptian patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

worldwide epidemic with global prevalence estimated at

25%. Although NAFLD is usually associated with obesity, patients who are not obese can also present with NAFLD; this is known as “lean NAFLD.” Lean NAFLD is defined as NAFLD that develops in patients with a body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2. The prevalence of lean NAFLD varies from 7% in the United States to as high as 19% in Asia . Unfortunately, being lean (not overweight) does not necessarily lead to better health. A recent large meta‐ analysis by Sookoian and Pirola of almost 2,000 patients with NAFLD who were lean demonstrated that patients with NAFLD who are lean or obese share a common altered metabolic and cardiovascular profile, which in turn may lead to collective risk for adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, including diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Indeed, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the