第一種用于非酒精性脂肪肝診斷和判斷預(yù)后的DNA芯片已經(jīng)研制成功，從而可以辨別正常、脂肪肝以及非酒精性脂肪肝可能的患者。

非酒精性脂肪肝是一種病因不明的進行性肝臟疾病，組織學特征包括脂肪酸稱沉積、肝細胞損傷、以及類似與酒精性肝炎的炎癥。非酒精性脂肪肝是肝臟脂肪變性進展至肝硬化和肝細胞癌的關(guān)鍵階段。非酒精性脂肪肝是轉(zhuǎn)氨酶升高患者最常見的原因之一。肥胖與2型糖尿病與非酒精性脂肪肝密切相關(guān)。由于這兩種疾病的發(fā)病率在不斷攀升，因此非酒精性脂肪肝的發(fā)病率也將不斷增加。

這種Hepatochip是由西班牙OWL基因公司、巴塞羅那臨床醫(yī)院肝病科、馬德里Principe de Asturias醫(yī)院聯(lián)合研制開發(fā)的。芯片分析85種共同表達的與非酒精性脂肪肝相關(guān)基因，即將與Gregorio Maranon醫(yī)院的肝病科聯(lián)合進行驗證。

Hepatochip方法檢測肝臟組織樣本中基因的共同表達，通過檢測肝臟病理學進展/消退對治療方案進行監(jiān)控。這種芯片還被用于做為患非酒精性脂肪肝可能患者的預(yù)后判斷工具，從而可以進行更精確的診斷并為健康保健工作者指導(dǎo)患者進行個體化治療。除此之外，這種芯片通過對非酒精性脂肪肝患者接受治療之前、之中和之后檢測病理進展或者消退，來評估非酒精性脂肪肝的治療效果。
 
Chip for Diagnosis of Steatohepatitis
 
The first DNA chip for the diagnosis and prognosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been developed, allowing discrimination among normal-, steatosis-, and NASH-predisposed subjects.

NASH is a progressive disease of the liver of unknown etiology, characterized histologically by fatty acid accumulation, hepatocyte damage, and inflammation resembling alcoholic hepatitis. NASH is a critical stage in the process that extends from hepatic steatosis to cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. NASH is one of the most common causes of elevated aminotransfereases in patients referred for evaluation to hepatologists. Obesity and type-2 diabetes are associated with NASH. Since prevalence is increasing, so will the prevalence of NASH.

The Hepatochip was developed by OWL Genomics (Zamudio, Spain) in collaboration with the hepatology services of the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona and Principe de Asturias Hospital in Madrid. The chip analyzes the co-expression of 85 genes that are related with NASH and is about to be validated in collaboration with the hepatology service of Gregorio Maranon Hospital (Madrid).

The Hepatochip method determines the co-expression of genes in the liver tissue sample, providing monitoring treatment regimens to check progression/regression of these liver pathologies. The chip can also be used as a prognostic tool for NASH-disposed patients, to make a more finely tuned diagnosis and allow healthcare professionals to tailor treatment to individual patient needs. In addition, the chip assesses the efficacy of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis treatment by determining progression or regression of NASH in patients before, during, and after NASH treatment.