Table 3

NAFLD activity score (NAS)34

Histological featureScoreCategory definition
Steatosis0<5%
15–33%
234–66%
3>66%
Plus
 Hepatocyte ballooning0None
1Few
2Many
Plus
 Inflammation0None
11–2 foci per ×20 field
22–4 foci per ×20 field
3>4 foci per ×20 field
NAS total 0–8
 Fibrosis0No fibrosis
1aZone 3 mild perisinusoidal fibrosis
1bZone 3 moderate perisinusoidal fibrosis
1cPeriportal/portal fibrosis only
2Zone 3+periportal/portal fibrosis
3Bridging fibrosis
4Cirrhosis
Fibrosis score 0–4
  • A score of ≥5 with steatosis and hepatocyte ballooning is generally considered diagnostic of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but patients can still have NASH with lower NAS scores if steatosis and hepatocyte ballooning are present.

  • NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.