Lysosomal acid lipase activity and liver fibrosis in the clinical continuum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background and Aims Recent evidence showed a reduced activity of the lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC). However, the relationship between LAL activity and liver fibrosis has never been investigated. Methods Cross-sectional study including 575 outpatients referred for the management of cardio-metabolic and liver disease. The absence of liver fibrosis was defined by a FIB-4 < 1.30 and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) Overall, 515 patients had a diagnosis of NAFLD (454 NAFL and 61 biopsy-proven NASH) and 60 of CC. The value of LAL activity progressively decreased from healthy subjects to NAFL/NASH patients to CC (P < .001). LAL activity was reduced by 10% in patients with NAFL, by 20% in NASH and by 50% in CC. The prevalence of CC decreased across the tertiles of LAL activity: 22.2% in the lowest, 4.6% in the intermediate and 0.5% in the highest tertile. In NAFLD patients, 69.9% had a FIB4 < 1.30, and 43.1% a NFS <-1.455. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Log (LAL activity) was associated with FIB-4 < 1.30 (Odds ratio [OR] 2.19 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-3.62, P = .002) and NFS < -1.455 (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.51-3.91, P < .001) after adjustment for confounding factors. Conclusions We found a progressive reduction of LAL activity according to liver disease severity. LAL activity was inversely associated with markers of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.