Figure 2.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver: There is fat accumulation within hepatocytes at this stage, a process known as hepatic steatosis. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: The accumulation of fat in the hepatocytes is accompanied by liver inflammation and hepatocellular ballooning. Fibrosis: Fibrotic scar tissue starts to form in an inflamed liver. According to the NASH Clinical Research Network (CRN) scoring system, fibrosis staging includes stage 0 (no fibrosis), stage 1A (mild perisinusoidal fibrosis), stage 1B (moderate perisinusoidal fibrosis), stage 1C (portal/periportal fibrosis), stage 2 (perisinusoidal and portal/periportal fibrosis), stage 3 (bridging fibrosis), and stage 4 (cirrhosis). Cirrhosis: End-stage liver disease, in which the formation of fibrotic septa bridges together adjacent portal tracts and central veins. There is an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development. NASH—non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; CRN—Clinical Research Network.