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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2009; 15(35): 4387-4391
Published online Sep 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4387
Published online Sep 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4387
Cytokeratin-18 fragments and biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Yusuf Yilmaz, Alla Eldeen Kedrah, Osman Ozdogan, Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, School of Medicine, 34662 Altunizade, Istanbul, Turkey
Author contributions: Yilmaz Y conceived the project, suggested the content of the review, wrote the draft, and co-wrote the final version; Kedrah AE wrote the draft and co-wrote the final version; Ozdogan O performed overall scientific direction and revision.
Correspondence to: Yusuf Yilmaz, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, School of Medicine, 34662 Altunizade, Istanbul, Turkey. yusufyilmaz@uludag.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-533-4403995 Fax: +90-216-6886681
Received: May 27, 2009
Revised: August 5, 2009
Accepted: August 12, 2009
Published online: September 21, 2009
Revised: August 5, 2009
Accepted: August 12, 2009
Published online: September 21, 2009
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains a leading cause of chronic liver disease. In the context of NAFLD, the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) portends an adverse prognosis with greater risk of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Although liver biopsy is the keystone of patient management in NAFLD, it is also increasingly clear that such evaluation has its limitations. The availability of biochemical markers of NAFLD and NASH has tremendous potential to radically alter management strategies for these conditions, as well as to monitor disease activity. Our article provides an overview of biomarker discovery and selection in the setting of NAFLD and highlights future directions in the field.