Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 10 , Pages 816-821, October 2008

Disease Progression in a Patient with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

  • Ping-Huei Tseng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chun-Jen Liu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jia-Horng Kao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chia-Tung Shun

      Affiliations

    • Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Pei-Jer Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ding-Shinn Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Ding-Shinn Chen, Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan

Received 9 May 2007; received in revised form 27 June 2007; accepted 7 August 2007.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The prevalence and clinical significance of NAFLD/NASH have been increasingly recognized in Western countries but much less known in Asian countries, including Taiwan. Here, we report the case of a 43-year-old man who had abnormal liver tests for 18 years. Retrospective evaluation of his initial clinical, laboratory and histologic findings indicated that the hepatic disorder was compatible with the diagnosis of NASH. Although his liver biochemical tests improved after taking lipid-lowering agents, a liver biopsy 17 years later demonstrated histologic progression of intralobular necroinflammation and perivenular fibrosis. These facts suggest that NASH, albeit mild and slowly progressive, indeed exists in Taiwan. After the control of chronic hepatitis B and C and westernization of the lifestyle in Taiwan, an increasing burden of NAFLD/NASH is anticipated and active prophylactic measures should be implemented.

Key Words:  metabolic syndrome , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60196-5

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60196-5

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 10 , Pages 816-821, October 2008

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