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Preventive hepatology for MASLD in the MENA region: reframing care from late-stage treatment to early intervention

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2026)Cite this article

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Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) being severely affected. By shifting towards preventive hepatology, MENA can mitigate the rising tide of MASLD and its complications, reduce health system costs and improve patient outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed El-Kassas

  2. Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan

    Mohamed El-Kassas

  3. Steatotic Liver Diseases Study Foundation in Middle East and North Africa (SLMENA), Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed El-Kassas

  4. Beatty Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Washington DC, USA

    Zobair M. Younossi

  5. The Global NASH/MASH Council, Washington DC, USA

    Zobair M. Younossi

Authors
  1. Mohamed El-Kassas
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  2. Zobair M. Younossi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed El-Kassas.

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Competing interests

M.E.-K. reports having served as an investigator, speaker and/or advisory board member for AstraZeneca, Roche, MSD, AbbVie, Eva, Multicare, Mash Premier, Takeda, Organon, AUG, Inspire, HSO, Gilead, Janssen, Intercept, Rameda, FPI, Ipsen, Onxeo, Sanofi, Sandoz, Al Andalus Pharma, Minapharm, Pharco, Zeta, Alfa Cure, Bayer, Oncoustics, PDC, Acino, Opella, Spimaco and Novo Nordisk. Z.M.Y. has received research funding and/or serves as consultant to Intercept, Cymabay, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ipsen, BMS, GSK, NovoNordisk, Siemens, Madridgal, Merck and Abbott.

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El-Kassas, M., Younossi, Z.M. Preventive hepatology for MASLD in the MENA region: reframing care from late-stage treatment to early intervention. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-025-01167-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-025-01167-4

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