A Deeper Dive into NASH Diagnosis and Treatment: An Augmented Reality Experience

Statement of Need

Obesity and diabetes are on the rise, leading to an increased prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which in some cases may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFLD effects approximately 30% of the U.S. population, with NASH effecting about 5%. NASH comes with a significant risk of progression to advanced liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Disease models project that the number of individuals with end-stage liver disease will double - or possibly triple - by 2030.

With the majority of high-risk patients first seen in the primary care setting, it is imperative that internists and primary care physicians identify patients at risk for NASH. Although liver biopsy was previously the best test for identifying the critical endpoints of NASH, several noninvasive, yet effective, tests have been developed recently that have the potential to be implemented in primary care settings. While currently there are no approved treatments for NASH, novel targeted therapies are being studied in phase III clinical trials, some of which have shown promising results.

In this CME Outfitters virtual symposium, expert faculty utilize Augmented Reality (AR) to visually dive into NASH, with particular focus on risk stratification, diagnosis, and emerging targeted therapies.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this CE activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify risk factors associated with NAFLD and NASH.
- Utilize appropriate noninvasive tests for the identification of NASH in patients with NAFLD.
- Evaluate novel therapeutic targets and clinical evidence on emerging therapies for NASH.

The following learning objectives pertain only to those requesting CNE or CPE credit:
- Identify risk factors associated with NAFLD and NASH.
- Describe appropriate noninvasive tests for the identification of NASH in patients with NAFLD.
- Evaluate novel therapeutic targets and clinical evidence on emerging therapies for NASH.