Progress in the search for circulating biomarkers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Context: The definitive standard for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is clinico-pathological correlation, but frequently the only laboratory abnormality is an elevation of serum aminotransferases. Objective: This has resulted in the search for more specific laboratory biomarkers. Methods: The literature was searched for novel plasma/serum markers of NAFLD. Results: Studies reviewed here included histologically-confirmed patients presenting some stage of NAFLD and monitored one or more novel serum/plasma biomarkers. Conclusion: The most promising application of some of these novel biomarkers for the detection and quantification of NAFLD and particularly NASH appears to be in the combination of several into diagnostic panels.