Fatty liver is a buildup of excess fat in liver cells. Fatty liver can have serious complications if more than 10 percent of the liver's weight is made up of fat.
Fatty liver causes no symptoms or damage for most people. The form of fatty liver that is not caused by alcohol abuse is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Severe forms can lead to liver failure.
Tests and Diagnosis
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Risk and Causes
- Fatty liver is found in almost all people who are heavy drinkers. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has no known exact cause. In addition to alcohol abuse, fatty liver often accompanies rapid weight loss, obesity, diabetes, high triglycerides and malnutrition. Risk factors also include certain medications, gastric bypass surgery, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, toxins and chemicals (i.e. pesticides), type 2 diabetes and Wilson's disease.
Symptoms and Forms
- A fatty liver often shows no symptoms. Many people do not know they have fatty liver until they have medical tests. Severe cases may exhibit fatigue, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, weakness and confusion.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver causes excess liver fat without complications. Nonalcoholic fatty liver is a common condition. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is inflammation of the liver in a small amount of people with fatty liver. NASH can affect the liver's ability to function, leading to complications. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-associated cirrhosis is liver inflammation that leads to scarring of liver tissue. The scarring can become so severe that liver failure ensues. Alcoholic steatohepatitis occurs when fatty liver accompanies alcohol abuse and is associated with liver damage due to inflammation.
Tests and Diagnosis
- Liver function blood tests check liver enzymes and can help aid your doctor in making a diagnosis. Imaging such as ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used. Liver tissue testing is done via biopsy in severe cases of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to look for inflammation and scarring.
Treatment
- There are no standard medical treatments available for fatty liver disease. Current treatment is to focus on the cause and on risk factors. Alcohol-induced fatty liver generally improves when alcohol is stopped. Increase exercise and lose weight if you are overweight. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Select unsaturated fats over saturated fats in foods such as fish, olive oil and nuts. Eat whole grains such as brown rice. Keep your blood sugar under control if you suffer from diabetes. Patients with high cholesterol should work on lowering it with medication and diet.
Prevention
- A healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent fatty liver. Avoid anything that stresses the liver, such as alcohol and certain medications. Eat more fruits and vegetables to benefit from the antioxidants they contain. Use household and work chemicals with care and follow proper safety measures; some chemicals can have a toxic effect on the liver.
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