Studie van de bijzondere karakteristieken van portale hypertensie in Niet-Alcoholische Steatohepatitis and de rol hiervan in de ziekteprogressie.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD-cirrhosis related morbidity represents a huge disease burden. No pharmacotherapy is currently approved, reflecting the poor understanding of NAFLD pathophysiology. Impairment of liver blood flow because of increased intrahepatic resistance is an early event that can contribute to disease progression by causing tissue hypoxia. Recent data also point towards differences in portal hypertension between NAFLD and other aetiologies of cirrhosis, suggesting a pre-sinusoidal component. Recent data also point towards the fact that, although disease phenotype is reversible in early stages, some pathway alterations persist and can expose to accelerated disease progression upon rechallenge. The current proposal will study the vascular mechanisms underlying NAFLD disease progression and regression. We study the impact of their modulation on disease evolution and unravel the specifics of NAFLD-related portal hypertension. We will also, by several innovative methods, examine the specific features of portal hypertension and liver vascular alterations in NAFLD patients. Finally, the pathway the modulation of which shows the most pronounced beneficial impact on the vascular alterations and related disease severity, will be tested pharmacologically in patients with NAFLD cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Trefwoorden:FARMACOTHERAPIE, NIET ALCOHOLISCHE LEVERVERVETTING, PORTALE HYPERTENSIE

Disciplines:Histologie, Hepatologie