International NASH Day took place on 12 June. Co-ordinated by the Global Liver Institute, International NASH Day is designed to raise awareness of NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).
In a press release, the Global Liver Institute said: “NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) and NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) occur when fat continues to accumulate in liver cells leading to inflammation and injury to the cells. Symptoms of NASH can be difficult to recognise but can include fatigue and pain in the upper right abdomen. For this reason, people with NASH are often unaware of their liver condition until the disease progresses. NASH is the second leading cause of liver transplant in the US and is predicted to become the leading cause. However, early screening and lifestyle changes can have an impact on NASH progression and potentially reverse the disease in its earlier stages.
“Millions of people worldwide are at risk for the potentially fatal liver diseases of NAFLD and its more severe form, NASH.
“NASH is a major risk factor for many other health conditions. People living with NASH usually have one or more metabolic disorders (such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease). Under-identified and untreated, NASH may result in serious outcomes including cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver transplant, or death. Now more than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic adds additional risks for those with NASH.”
“With the global prevalence of fatty liver disease at 25%, there is an urgent need to accelerate the adoption of the noninvasive technologies which are revolutionizing the field of NASH to more safely and effectively identify, stage, and determine treatment response in this growing number of patients,” stated Zobair Younossi, MD, MPH, President of Inova Medicine and Chairman of Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. “The Global Liver Institute’s International NASH Day plays a significant role in building awareness of screening, NASH education and advocacy, and taking actions that will significantly impact this global epidemic."
The Global Liver Institute will be making available videos of virtual panels on:
- NASH and metabolic syndrome
- Beyond the biopsy: the role of non-invasive tests in NASH
- Paediatric NASH
- NASH and obesity
- NASH as a global public health challenge
- NASH and liver cancer.
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