Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease Cross Talk

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a multisystem condition with effects beyond the liver. The identification of chronic kidney disease as an independent mediator of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or associated entity with shared cardiometabolic risk factors remains controversial and continues to draw scientific interest. With increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and lack of Food and Drug Administration approved therapies, these shared cardiometabolic risk factors have drawn significant attention. In this article, we review shared pathophysiological mechanisms between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic kidney disease along with current treatment strategies that might be useful for both disease processes.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease (CKD); Metabolic syndrome; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).