Sleep Apnea, Hypoxia Inducible Factor, and Fatty Liver: More Questions Than Answers?

HIF-1 and HIF-2 may mediate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease  severity and the progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as a result of tissue hypoxia in hepatic steatosis. In this context, conditions that expose patients to hypoxia could increase the risk for hepatic fibrosis and NASH.