Recompensation in cirrhosis: unravelling the evolving natural history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Recompensation has gained increasing attention in the feld of cirrhosis, particularly in chronic liver disease with a defnite aetiology. The current global prevalence of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing, but there is currently a lack of a clear defnition for recompensation in NAFLD-related cirrhosis. Here, we provide an up-to-date perspective on the natural history of NAFLD, emphasizing the reversible nature of the disease, summarizing possible mechanisms underlying recompensation in NAFLD, discussing challenges that need to be addressed and outlining future research directions in the feld. Recompensation is a promising goal in patients with NAFLD-related cirrhosis, and further studies are needed to explore its underlying mechanisms and uncover its clinical features.