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Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) as a Global but Not Liver-Limited Health Challenge—from Disease Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Targets

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Gastroenterology & Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 August 2025 | Viewed by 2262

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology with Endoscopy Unit, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland
Interests: liver cirrhosis; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; portal hypertension; liver failure; chronic liver diseases; liver cirrhosis; immune-related liver diseases; alcohol-related liver disease

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Guest Editor
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology with Endoscopy Unit, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland
Interests: chronic liver diseases; liver cirrhosis; alcohol-related liver disease; cholestasis; inflammatory bowel disease; novel markers of liver fibrosis; liver steatosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) covers the wide spectrum of steatotic liver disease. It has become a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide and one of the most common indications for liver transplantation. Nevertheless, hepatic injury is not the only health problem in the course of the disease, and comorbidities should also be taken into account. Understanding the multiorgan and systemic impact of metabolic interactions should facilitate holistic patient management by providing exact insights into disease pathogenesis and should help to create better therapeutic strategies in the future.

The present Special Issue aims to highlight the coexistence of major liver, cardiovascular, and cancer threats to disease-affected patients, as well as to address the importance of the early implementation of preventive strategies to hamper disease progression and establish the most effective treatment.

We are pleased and honored to invite researchers to submit all types of papers, including original, narrative, and systematic reviews, to this Special Issue to widen our knowledge of multiorgan metabolic interactions and their implications for human health. 

Prof. Dr. Beata Kasztelan-Szczerbinska
Prof. Dr. Halina Cichoż-Lach
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
  • non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
  • hepatic steatosis
  • multiorgan metabolic interactions
  • liver-related morbidity
  • liver-related mortality
  • lipid metabolism
  • cardiovascular metabolic complications
  • metabolic dysfunction-related cancer

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2520 KiB  
Article
Clinical and Economic Burden of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in a Spanish Mediterranean Region: A Population-Based Study
by Javier Díaz Carnicero, Inma Saurí-Ferrer, Josep Redon, Jorge Navarro, Gonzalo Fernández, Carlos Hurtado, Karine Ferreira, Carolina Alvarez-Ortega, Antón Gómez, Carlos J. Martos-Rodríguez, David Martí-Aguado, Desamparados Escudero and Marta Cedenilla
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(7), 2441; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072441 - 3 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent condition worldwide, with significant regional variability in prevalence estimates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, demographic characteristics, and economic burden of MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver (MASL), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent condition worldwide, with significant regional variability in prevalence estimates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, demographic characteristics, and economic burden of MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver (MASL), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in the Valencian Community region of Spain. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from the Valencian public healthcare database of individuals aged over 24 years from 2012 to 2019. Results: Of the 3,411,069 individuals included in the database in 2019, 75,565 were diagnosed with MASLD, 74,065 with MASL, and 1504 with MASH based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), corresponding to a prevalence of 2.22%, 2.17%, and 0.04%, respectively. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or obesity, the prevalence of MASLD was approximately three times and 2.5 times higher, respectively, compared to the overall population. The prevalence of MASLD, MASL, and MASH increased from 2012 to 2019 in all the populations studied. The highest risk of hospitalization was associated with liver-related causes, followed by all-cause hospitalization. The highest cost per subject in 2019 was observed in individuals with concomitant MASH and T2DM. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a rising prevalence of MASLD, MASL, and MASH, despite their potential underdiagnosis during the study period. The presence of MASLD or MASH was associated with high healthcare costs, particularly in patients with MASH and T2DM. Our results underline the need for more effective strategies to enhance disease awareness and improve resource allocation. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 674 KiB  
Review
Ramadan Fasting and Complications of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Impacts on Liver Cirrhosis and Heart Failure
by Musaab Ahmed
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(6), 1841; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14061841 - 9 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background: Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and heart failure are two intersecting growing pandemics. Studies have demonstrated a strong association between MASLD and heart failure. Liver cirrhosis is a well-recognized complication of MASLD. This study aimed to summarize the potential effects of Ramadan [...] Read more.
Background: Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and heart failure are two intersecting growing pandemics. Studies have demonstrated a strong association between MASLD and heart failure. Liver cirrhosis is a well-recognized complication of MASLD. This study aimed to summarize the potential effects of Ramadan fasting on MASLD, liver cirrhosis, and heart failure. The author searched the SCOPUS and PubMed databases using specific terms. The literature review focused on research articles published in English from 2000 to 2024. Twenty-two articles were selected for this narrative review. Ramadan fasting reduced serum cholesterol serum levels, improved symptoms of heart failure and reduced anthropometric measurements. However, it increased ascitic fluid production and plasma bilirubin levels and might increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy and upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in liver cirrhosis. Ramadan fasting might improve symptoms of heart failure and might decrease the risk of heart failure in patients with MASLD. Further research studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and evaluate the safety of Ramadan fasting in patients with heart failure and liver cirrhosis. Full article
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