Serum ferritin is a discriminant marker for both fibrosis and inflammation in histologically proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

INTRODUCTION: Differentiation between steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is important as NASH progress to cirrhosis. No specific laboratory/imaging technique exists either to diagnose NASH or to select patients for liver biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated serum ferritin and the features of metabolic syndrome with respect to histological inflammation and/or fibrosis in NAFLD patients. The Kleiner scoring system was used to classify NAFLD in consecutive liver biopsies. One hundred and eleven patients: median age 52.6, 64 males, obesity 62, diabetes mellitus (DM) 58, arterial hypertension 26 and hyperlipidaemia 40%. RESULTS: …