Cardiovascular risk and inflammation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: The upregulation of inflammatory platelet transcripts suggest a role for platelets in the “inflammatory network” of NAFLD

median period of 30months. Metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular events and extra-hepatic malignancies were registered. Outcomes included liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death. Results: Median age was 66 years and women outnumbered men. Overweight/obesity (82.3%), altered glucose disposal (70%), hypertension (55.9%), metabolic syndrome (54%), hypothyroidism (14.4%), gallstones (58.7%), extra-hepatic malignancy (12.4%) and cardiovascular diseases (43.3%) were common co-morbidities. The prevalence of coronary artery disease was significantly higher in CC patients than in two age-matched cohorts. The majority of patients were Child Class B-C at diagnosis. 60.7% developed liver failure and 17.6% HCC during follow-up. Death occurred in 36.2% of patients with a median survival of 60 months. Liver-related causes accounted for79.4%ofdeaths,whichwere independentlypredicted by age and Child class. Conclusions: CC may result from unrecognized NASH, has a poor prognosis and liver-related complications and death are predicted by age and Child class. CC is associated with substantial cardiovascular and cancer risk, calling for more liberal surveillance policies in these individuals.