Whole-Exome Sequencing Study of Extreme Phenotypes of NAFLD.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a heterogeneous disease with highly variable outcomes. Patients with simple steatosis typically experience a benign course, whereas those with more advanced liver injury, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and advanced stage fibrosis suffer increased risk for complications such as cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and liver cancer. Genetic variants in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 () and transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 () and clinical factors including diabetes, obesity, and older age increase a patient's risk for NASH, advanced fibrosis, and worse outcomes.