Mean Platelet Volumes in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Relationship to Cardiovascular Events

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is commonly associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, and is now recognized as the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries [1-3]. NAFLD encompasses a histological spectrum of liver disease from hepatic steatosis to the more advanced necroinflammatory form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can then lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD patients have increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular (CV) disease with CV disease being the leading cause of death [1,2,46]. NAFLD is an independent risk factor despite association with traditional risk factors and the metabolic syndrome [1]. At this time the link between NAFLD and CV disease is not well established.