San Diego Liver Study

Screening for Advanced Liver Fibrosis in Obese Patients from the Greater San Diego Area

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) are among the most prevalent causes of chronic liver disease worldwide and with the greatest impacts on populations in industrialized nations. Multiple factors contribute to both ALD and MASLD and they encompass a broad spectrum of disease states including accumulation of fat in the liver (steatosis), a type of fatty liver disease, characterized by inflammation of the liver with concurrent fat accumulation in the liver (steatohepatitis), scar tissue formation (fibrosis), and chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening of tissue (cirrhosis).

The purpose of this study is to estimate the accurate prevalence of steatosis and fibrosis in overweight or obese adult participants.

There have been studies showing that MASLD incidence and progression rates are disproportionately higher among individuals of Hispanic ethnicity in the United States. Due to a racially and ethnically diverse local population that is 30% Hispanic, San Diego is an ideal location to investigate this gap in knowledge. This study will also investigate the full spectrum of fatty liver disease, both in overweight or obese individuals as well as in Hispanics vs. non-Hispanics. Although these conditions are mostly linked to alcohol consumption, obesity is a major risk factor. This study will give information about MASLD, MASH, or ALD and will not change your current treatment. There are no experimental treatments in this study. Our goal is to recruit approximately 1500 overweight or obese adult participants who are primarily ages 40 to 75.

For additional questions regarding this study please contact:

Phone: (858) 246-2179

masld@health.ucsd.edu