GRIP on NASH is an observational study in which 10.000 high risk patients (type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity or arterial hypertension) in 10 different European countries will be screened for the presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis using two non-invasive tests (FIB-4 and FibroScan). Blood samples and liver biopsy material will be collected. Genomic, proteomic, metabolomic and lipidomic studies will be applied to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and to identify (bio)markers that will help to detect patients at risk. The predictive value of FIB-4 in relation to FibroScan results and liver biopsy will be analysed. Long-term follow-up of 5 years in all participants will provide insight into the natural history of the disease.
GRIP on NASH will assist primary care physicians and clinicians to implement the latest patient care pathway, as described by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), to identify patients at risk of severe fatty liver disease and to raise awareness on fatty liver disease. The primary objective is to implement a transmural patient care pathway, in order to identify patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) and its progressive form non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in primary care centres and clinics in 10 European countries.