대사이상 지방간질환의 진단기준 개정과 그 의미

Abstract

A recent major change has occurred in the nomenclature of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). From the multi-society Delphi consensus statement proposed a new term: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in 2023. The term "nonalcoholic" was regarded as misleading on multiple grounds. Firstly, it failed to reflect the disease's metabolic origins. Secondly, it hindered patients’ understanding. Thirdly, the terms "nonalcoholic" and "fatty" were regarded as stigmatising by patients and physicians in the field. The proposal of MASLD was a response to these concerns. Since its introduction, the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver has also introduced the new Korean term for MASLD, previously the NAFLD. This article will briefly introduce the new MASLD diagnostic criteria and discuss their implications.