The Liver Meeting 2021-Tailoring NASH Therapy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In summary, the genetic architecture of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was discussed by a professor at the University of Michigan in a presentation focused on precision medicine and targeted therapies. The prevalence of NAFLD has been increasing globally, particularly with the rise of obesity. Various non-invasive methods to measure hepatic steatosis, such as CT scans, MRI, and FibroScan, have been developed for genetic studies. Through genotyping large populations and combining it with phenotyping, the heritability of NAFLD was estimated to be around 25-34% in the population. Studies have identified specific variants associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, some of which overlap with alcoholic liver disease and predispose individuals to hepatocellular carcinoma. It was highlighted that NAFLD is a polygenic disease with multiple variants influencing its development. The presentation also touched upon lifestyle interventions for NAFLD, emphasizing the importance of weight loss, dietary modifications, and physical activity in managing the disease. Emerging medical therapies for NAFLD, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, FGFR, and FGFR21, were discussed, showing promising results in improving liver fat content and some histological outcomes. Overall, the use of genetic markers and precision medicine is poised to revolutionize the treatment and management of NAFLD in the future.

Keywords

genetic architecture

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

precision medicine

targeted therapies

prevalence

obesity

hepatic steatosis

genotyping

heritability

variants

lifestyle interventions