Morales-Galicia AE, Ramírez-Mejía MM, Ponciano-Rodriguez G, Méndez-Sánchez N. Revolutionizing the understanding of liver disease: Metabolism, function and future. World J Hepatol 2024; 16(12): 1365-1370 [DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i12.1365]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, FAASLD, MSc, PhD, Researcher, Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Mexico City 14050, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Hepatol. Dec 27, 2024; 16(12): 1365-1370 Published online Dec 27, 2024. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i12.1365
Revolutionizing the understanding of liver disease: Metabolism, function and future
Arnulfo E Morales-Galicia, Mariana M Ramírez-Mejía, Guadalupe Ponciano-Rodriguez, Nahum Méndez-Sánchez
Arnulfo E Morales-Galicia, Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04360, Mexico
Mariana M Ramírez-Mejía, Plan of Combined Studies in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04360, Mexico
Mariana M Ramírez-Mejía, Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City 14050, Mexico
Guadalupe Ponciano-Rodriguez, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04360, Mexico
Author contributions: Méndez-Sánchez N, Morales-Galicia AE, Ponciano-Rodríguez G and Ramírez-Mejía MM contributed to this paper; Méndez-Sánchez N designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Morales-Galicia AE and Ramírez-Mejía MM contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; Méndez-Sánchez N, Morales-Galicia AE, Ponciano-Rodríguez G and Ramírez-Mejía MM contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript, illustrations, and review of the literature.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, FAASLD, MSc, PhD, Researcher, Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Mexico City 14050, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx
Received: August 16, 2024 Revised: October 25, 2024 Accepted: November 6, 2024 Published online: December 27, 2024 Processing time: 105 Days and 14.6 Hours
Abstract
The intersection between metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an emerging area of research with significant implications for public health and clinical practice. Wang et al’s study highlights the complexities of managing patients with concurrent MASLD and HBV. The findings revealed that patients with concurrent MASLD-HBV exhibited more severe liver inflammation and fibrosis, whereas those with HBV alone presented a better lipid profile. The growing recognition of metabolic dysfunction in liver disease, reflected in the shift from nonalcoholic liver disease to MASLD, demands updates to clinical guidelines, particularly for patients with dual etiologies. Understanding the biological interactions between MASLD and HBV could lead to novel therapeutic approaches, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment strategies. The coexistence of MASLD and HBV presents therapeutic challenges, particularly in managing advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, which are more likely in these patients. The aim of this editorial is to analyze the interaction between MASLD and HBV, highlight the pathophysiological mechanisms that exacerbate liver disease when both conditions coexist, and discuss the clinical implications of the findings of Wang et al.
Core Tip: This article presents a critical examination of the complex interplay between metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a rapidly evolving area of research with profound implications for clinical practice and public health. Wang et al highlighted the challenges in managing patients with concurrent MASLD and HBV, underscoring the need for comprehensive longitudinal studies, updates to clinical guidelines, and the development of personalized therapeutic approaches. As the global prevalence of MASLD continues to rise, this article offers indispensable insights for advancing the future of hepatology and improving patient outcomes.
