Ramírez-Mejía MM, Méndez-Sánchez N. Systemic inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Biological relevance and diagnostic limits. World J Hepatol 2026; 18(10): 120087 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.120087]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Colonia Toriello Guerra, Mexico City 14050, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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editorial
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Ramírez-Mejía MM, Méndez-Sánchez N. Systemic inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Biological relevance and diagnostic limits. World J Hepatol 2026; 18(10): 120087 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.120087]
World J Hepatol. Oct 27, 2026; 18(10): 120087 Published online Oct 27, 2026. doi: 10.4254/wjh.120087
Systemic inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Biological relevance and diagnostic limits
Mariana M Ramírez-Mejía, Nahum Méndez-Sánchez
Mariana M Ramírez-Mejía, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04360, Mexico
Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City 14050, Mexico
Author contributions: Ramírez-Mejía MM contributed to investigation and writing -original draft; Méndez-Sánchez N contributed to conceptualization, supervision, writing - review and editing.
AI contribution statement: No AI tools were used in the preparation or writing of this manuscript. English language editing and translation assistance were provided during the revision process.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Colonia Toriello Guerra, Mexico City 14050, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx
Received: February 14, 2026 Revised: March 6, 2026 Accepted: May 18, 2026 Published online: October 27, 2026 Processing time: 246 Days and 4.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Several markers have been developed to assess systemic inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, including blood cell-derived indices and C-reactive protein. Yet, a statistical association with fibrosis does not make them clinically useful. Duarte et al confirm this using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Although indices such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and systemic inflammatory response index are associated with fibrosis, their discriminatory power is limited. C-reactive protein performs only slightly better. This suggests that inflammatory markers should be considered contextual risk modifiers. Not standalone diagnostic tools for fibrosis detection. Future strategies should prioritize biomarkers that more directly capture fibrogenic activity.
