Family History of NAFL Increases Risk of Advanced Fibrosis

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) defines nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as an overarching term for a set of diseases that cause a fat buildup in the liver. The organization also estimates that 24% of adults in the United States struggle with this disease. In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers linked a family history of NAFLD to an increased risk of advanced fibrosis.

According to the publication, “this prospective study included probands with NAFLD with advanced fibrosis, NAFLD without advanced fibrosis, and non-NAFLD, with at least one first-degree relative. A total of 396 first-degree relatives — 220 in a derivation cohort and 176 in a validation cohort — were enrolled in the study, and liver fibrosis was evaluated using magnetic resonance elastography and other noninvasive imaging modalities. The primary outcome was the prevalence of advanced fibrosis in first-degree relatives.”

The study found that having a first-degree relative with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis increased a patient’s risk of developing advanced fibrosis by over 15%. Furthermore, having a first-degree relative with NAFLD and no advanced fibrosis was associated with a 5.9% increased risk of advanced fibrosis.

Researchers in the study concluded that “first-degree relatives of probands with NAFLD with advanced fibrosis have significantly increased risk of advanced fibrosis. Routine screening for advanced fibrosis should be done in the first-degree relatives of patients with advanced fibrosis. These data have important implications for clinical practice.”

While additional research may be needed to confirm the results of this trial, clinicians may weigh a family history of NAFLD more heavily when predicting advanced fibrosis. Understanding risk factors may help providers and patients manage this chronic disease earlier and mitigate its progression. Proper risk assessment and stratification can also reduce the burdens — financial and otherwise — associated with chronic illness.