KASL clinical practice guidelines: Management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Until recently, the major causes of end-stage liver disease in Korea were chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and alcoholic liver disease. However, hepatitis B vaccinations and antiviral drugs are anticipated to significantly reduce end-stage liver disease caused by hepatitis viruses. In contrast, the incidence of obesity-related metabolic syndrome has rapidly increased in Korea, resulting in a high prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from 16-33%. NAFLD had not received much attention in the past because of its relatively favorable clinical progress. However, it has received increased attention since NAFLD was identified to progress in some patients to end-stage liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. For this reason, the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of NAFLD have been proactively investigated in recent years. However, clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD have not been established in Korea. This need prompted the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL) to develop the "KASL Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease", based on a systematic approach that reflects evidence-based medicine and expert opinions.