Fatty liver is a condition where excess fat is deposited
on this organ. Also called as steatosis, this condition happens when more than
5- 10 percent of the weight of the liver is made up of fat.
Fatty liver is a common
condition among people. A study from coastal regions of India found ~ 25% of
healthy persons had patients had fatty liver on ultrasound.
It can
occur at all ages including childhood, highest prevalence is in 40–50 year age
group. Prevalence more in patient who are obese and in diabetic patients.
Types of Fatty Liver
1 Alcoholic fatty liver: This condition occurs when there is a heavy consumption of alcohol. Gastroenterologists recommend abstention from alcohol
for this condition to subside. If the patient continues to consume alcohol,
then liver cirrhosis may develop.
2 Non
alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL): One may develop a fatty liver even if one is not an
alcoholic. The liver in some cases is unable to process the fat in cells
causing them to build-up on the organ.
When more
than 10% of the liver is made of fat then this condition is called Non
Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL).
Non
alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): When fatty liver is associated with
inflammation in liver patient is said to be having Non alcoholic
steatohepatitis. NASH is a more advanced stage of NAFLD, and has a higher risk
of progressing to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These
condition display symptoms like jaundice, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite
and abdominal pain. Blood test (LFT) shows raised enzymes level. Approx 5-8% of
the Indian population has NASH. Consult a doctor if you are experiencing any of
these symptoms.
3 Fatty liver during pregnancy: Occurring
mainly in the third trimester, the symptoms of this condition are vomiting,
nausea, pain the right part of the abdomen and jaundice.
Symptoms
During the
early stages (fatty liver) of the disease, patients usually have no symptoms
directly related to liver disease. However, people may experience a vague
abdominal discomfort. If their liver is inflamed (NASH) then they may display
symptoms of poor appetite, weight loss, pain in the abdomen and disorientation.
What causes fatty liver?
The most
common cause of fatty liver is alcoholism. When the human liver is unable to
metabolize fat fast enough or when there is an excess accumulation of fat on
the liver cells then the liver becomes fatty. However, intake of high-fat foods
may not result in a fatty liver.
Predisposing factor:
1 Diabetes
mellitus
2 Obesity
or being overweight
3
Hyperlipidemia or the condition where there are high levels of fat in the blood
4 Genetic
reasons
5 Rapid loss
of weight
6 Drugs:
Aspirin, steroids, tamoxifen, tetracycline etc. cause side effects which also
leads to fatty liver
7
Nutritional status (eg, overnutrition, severe malnutrition, total parenteral
nutrition [TPN], or starvation diet)
8 Other
health problems (eg, Hepatitis C infection, celiac sprue and Wilson
disease)
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