In a promising development, researchers from Yale University have pinpointed a specific protein critical in driving liver damage. This discovery can open up new avenues for treating liver diseases, particularly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe fatty liver disease that often leads to liver transplantation due to ineffective treatment options.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common liver problem worldwide. It happens when too much fat gathers in the liver, often in people who are higher weight. If not treated, it can become a more severe condition called NASH or even lead to cancer.
As more people have become higher weight, the number of NASH cases has increased. About 5% of adults in the U.S. have NASH, which can harm the liver and cause scarring. NASH is now the top reason for liver transplants in the United States. If we can reduce liver scarring, it may mean fewer people needing this surgery.
Dr. Dean Yimlamai,