Published online May 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5320
Revised: January 10, 2014
Accepted: January 19, 2014
Published online: May 14, 2014
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming rapidly one of the most common indications for orthotopic liver transplantation in the world. Development of graft steatosis is a significant problem during the post-transplant course, which may happen as a recurrence of pre-existing disease or de novo NAFLD. There are different risk factors that might play a role in development of graft steatosis including post-transplant metabolic syndrome, immune-suppressive medications, genetics and others. There are few studies that assessed the effects of NAFLD on graft and patient survival; most of them were limited by the duration of follow up or by the number of patients. With this review article we will try to shed light on post-liver transplantation NAFLD, significance of the disease, how it develops, risk factors, clinical course and treatment options.
Core tip: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is projected to become the most common indication for liver transplantation in the United States by 2030 with high risk for disease recurrence after transplantation. De novo NAFLD may develop in patients transplanted for other indications due to the high prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. The optimal management of NAFLD after liver transplantation requires future studies.