Fatty liver disease, especially non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is emerging as the most common form of liver disease - affecting at least 5 per cent of the population of western countries with increasing incidence in developing economies in other continents (particularly Asia, South America and South Africa). NASH is the form of fatty liver disorder which can result in cirrhosis, particularly in those with diabetes or who are overweight, yet it is still not widely recognised despite its already high and increasing prevalence worldwide. This book explains what NASH is, why it happens, who gets it, how it can result in cirrhosis, when to think about it, how to select practical management between those with a minor abnormality from those who may have cirrhosis, and how to prevent and treat this ubiquitous condition. Fatty Liver Diseases: NASH and Related Disorders is an unusual book: it combines a practical approach for students and physicians concerned with the problem with a clear overview on the causative mechanisms. It should appeal to doctors and other health care workers who encounter this problem, as well as to pathologists and investigators interested in the field of liver disease. There is a dearth of assembled information about NASH: such information is sought by physicians of various backgrounds, and detailed information is required by gastroenterologist, hepatologists, general physicians, diabetologists, nutritionalists and pathologists. Information on the diagnosis, management and understanding of this disease is only available in recent reviews - it is not covered in standard texts and there is no specific book available on the subject so far. The reader will benefit from the book by improving their diagnostic acumen for people with abnormal liver tests, improving knowledge about an important subject that will assist them in specialist or undergraduate exams, and will improve management of a common disorder.
