Definition and natural history of metabolic steatosis: histology and cellular aspects

Abstract

In patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, liver changes may be observed on histology that are characterized as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The NAFLD spectrum covers a variety of histological features, including steatosis, necroinflammation and fibrosis. Although steatosis usually follows a benign course, steatohepatitis is prone to progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Establishing the degree of severity of liver lesions, the main endpoint of the disease, can identify patients at risk of disease progression. This may be achieved by liver biopsy. For that purpose, a scoring system for both activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage) is available with good reproducibility. In addition to the commonly seen histopathological patterns of lesions, additional changes are reported in patients with diabetes, including glycogenic hepatopathy and hepatic hepatosclerosis.