The Differentiation of Intestinal-Failure-Associated Liver Disease from Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Buchman, Alan L. MD, MSPH
Naini, Bita V. MD
Spilker, Bert PhD, MD

¹Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
²Department of Pathology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
³Bert Spilker and Associates LLC, Bethesda, Maryland

Address for correspondence Alan L. Buchman, MD, MSPH, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, [email protected]

Author Contributions

Drs. Buchman and Spilker conceived and drafted the manuscript; Dr. Naini developed the histological criteria and wrote portions of the histology section. All authors participated in the library investigation and critical revisions of the manuscript.

Seminars in Liver Disease 37(1):p 33-44, February 2017. | DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1597771

Abstract

Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), formerly known as parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease has often been listed in textbooks as an example of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, histology, and progression differ substantially between the conditions defined as NAFLD and the disease, IFALD. Therefore, IFALD should not be defined or considered as a type or a cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, but rather as a distinct disease.