THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON NON-ALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS(NASH):A VIEW FROM ACE GASTROENTEROLOGIST

Akashdeep Sikdar*

ABSTRACT

NASH and Covid19

(SARS-CoV-2) pandemic highlighted the importance of an effective host immune response. COVID-19, which can involve a number of diverse symptoms, including immune dysregulation and cytokine storm. Ongoing worldwide obesity pandemic that has led to insulin resistance, diabetes, and chronic liver disease (CLD), becoming a major public health burden. CLD is most commonly caused by chronic hepatitis B and C, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). CLD can further led to inflammation (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]), fibrosis, and finally cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as end-stage diseases. Cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, and HCC are responsible for approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide. Covid-19 have caused significant morbidity and mortality through increase inflammation and thrombosis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non- alcoholic steatohepatitis are states of chronic inflammation and indicate advanced metabolic disease. Hospitalizations for Covid-19 have disrupted thousands of lives. Obesity and metabolic disease appear to be the most significant modifiable risk factors for poor outcomes from Covid- 19. Given Covid-19’s pathophysiology through inflammation, NAFLD/NASH patients are at higher risk of poor outcomes from Covid-19. Here we discuss these serious healthcare burden with ace gastroenterologist Dr. Pardha Devaki. He received his medical education from Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad, India. Dr. Devaki completed his Medicine Residency at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He also completed his Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. Currently Dr. Devaki is affiliated with Mercy Hospital Rogers. Below are excerpts from the discussion with Dr. Devaki.

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