Nealkoholna masna bolest jetre (NAFLD) je danas najčešća kronična bolest jetre i to je danas najčešći uzrok alteriranih jetrenih enzima. U kontekstu NAFLD-a važno nam je odrediti postoji li upalna komponenta (nealkoholni steatohepatitis; NASH) i postoji li fibroza jetre, ako da, kojeg je stadija. Naime, prisustvo upale (NASH-a) važno nam je u prognozi progresije same bolesti jetre i razvoja komplikacija (ciroze jetre i hepatocelualrnog karcinoma), te u kontekstu prisustva i razvoja izvanjetrenih manifestacija NAFLD-a. U kontekstu progresije same bolesti jetre najvažniji pokazatelj nam je ipak prisustvo i stadij fibroze jetre. Sve danas dostupne neinvazivne metode od kojih je najistraženija tranzijetna elastografija još uvijek ne mogu zamijeniti biopsiju jetre koja je još uvijek zlatni standard. Imajući na umu da 25 − 30 % populacije ima NAFLD, sigurno je da ne možemo bioptirati toliku populaciju ljudi. Prema preporukama Europskog udruženja za bolesti jetre biopsija jetre je uputna kod bolesnika s NAFLD-om koji imaju rizik od uznapredovale bolesti jetre (NASH-a i fibroze), a to su svakako bolesnici sa šećernom bolesti tipa 2 i/ili metaboličkim sindromom, osobito oni stariji od 50 godina. Prisustvo značajno povišenih vrijednosti elastografskoga parametra fibroze i/ili povišene vrijednosti FIB-4 scora mogu nam pomoći u odluci koga bioptirati. Biopsija je uputna kod bolesnika kod kojih nije jasna etiologija bolesti jetre ili ako postoji rizik i druge bolesti uz NAFLD.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease and the most common cause of liver enzyme alterations today. As regards NAFLD, it is essential to determine whether the disease presents with an inflammatory component (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, i.e. NASH) and whether there are signs of liver fibrosis, and if so, the stage of the fibrosis. The presence of inflammation (i.e. NASH) is relevant for predicting the progression of the liver disease and the development of complications (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma), as well as in the context of presence and development of extrahepatic manifestations of NAFLD. The presence and stage of liver fibrosis is still the most important indicator in terms of progression of the liver disease itself. Non-invasive methods available today, including the most extensively studied method of transient elastography, still cannot replace liver biopsy, which remains the gold standard. As 25-30 % of the population have NAFLD, it is impractical to perform biopsies on such a large population of people. According to the recommendations of the European Association for Liver Diseases, liver biopsy is recommended for NAFLD patients at risk of developing advanced liver disease (NASH and fibrosis), particularly patients with type 2 diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome, especially those older than 50, patients who do not have a clear etiology of liver disease or are at risk of developing concurrent illnesses. Significantly elevated values of elastography parameter for fibrosis and/or elevated FIB-4 score can also help to decide which patients qualify for biopsy.