Chronic Liver Disease and Comorbidities

Course Summary

The liver is a complex, vital organ that performs important metabolic and regulatory functions. Given the importance of the liver, when hepatic disease, injury or dysfunction occurs, the patient is at risk of serious illness and liver-related deaths. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Liver disease rarely presents independently of other diseases. Disorders that may accompany liver disease, especially nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, are conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension and portal hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. Some of these conditions may cluster, leading to metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is considered to be a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease interacts with these conditions in complex ways that often blur the line between cause and effect.