Non alcoholic steatohepatitis 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 spans 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 to NASH. Since the prevalence of these diseases is increasing, the prevalence of NASH is also expected to increase and therefore, this disease has become an emerging public issue in United States as well as in other developed countries

The HEPATOCHIP presented at the mentioned forum, has been developed in collaboration with the Hepatology Services of the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona and Prncipe de Asturias Hospital in Alcal de Henares (Madrid). This chip analyses 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 Maran Hospital (Madrid).

This 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.

This HEPATOCHIP can be used as a prognostic tool for NASH-predisposed patients, to make possible more finely tuned diagnosis of this disease and allow healthcare professionals to tailor treatment to individual patients' needs. This chip also assess the efficacy of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis treatment by determining progression or regression of NASH in
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Contact: Miryam Asuncion
masuncion@owlgenomics.com
Owl Genomics
7-Apr-2005