Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common form of fatty liver disease that often has no symptoms. According to the American Liver Foundation, it’s estimated that around 5% of American adults have NASH. Because many people have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, they may not know they have NASH.
No one knows exactly what causes NASH, but it is more common in people with certain conditions (obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes).
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by excess fat cells stored in the liver. In people with NASH, a more severe form of NAFLD, fat cells damage the liver and cause fibrosis (scarring), which can lead to cirrhosis (severe scarring) and eventually liver cancer.
The Symmetry study is for people with compensated cirrhosis due to NASH. Study doctors want to find out if the investigational drug, efruxifermin, can help reverse cirrhosis of the liver and improve other NASH symptoms.
There are 2 types of cirrhosis of the liver: compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis.
In compensated cirrhosis, the liver is severely scarred but is still able to function. In decompensated cirrhosis, the liver is severely scarred, has lost most of its function, and may shut down.
Compensated cirrhosis often leads to decompensated cirrhosis.
Stages of liver scarring:
Learn more about nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at these organizations’ websites: