Fatty
Liver
What
is it?
Fatty liver is the collection
of excessive amounts of fat inside liver cells,
also called steatosis. The liver is the largest
organ in the body, and performs many important
functions.
One of those functions is to change substances in the foods
you eat into proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
One form of fat the liver produces is
triglycerides, which are important for new cell
production and to make hormones such as estrogen,
testosterone, and the adrenal hormones.
With fatty liver, the liver cells
accumulate large droplets of fat that consist of
mostly triglycerides.
Who
gets it?
People with poor diets or
problems with alcohol abuse may develop fatty
liver. It
is also seen in people who are obese or have
diabetes mellitus, and in children with Reye’s
syndrome. Very rarely pregnant women can
develop this condition acutely during their
pregnancy.
What
causes it?
In the United States, the
most common cause of fatty liver is alcohol abuse.
This form is called alcoholic steatosis.
All other forms are called non-alcoholic
steatohepatitus (NASH), and are caused by
conditions including malnutrition, obesity,
diabetes mellitus, and Reye's syndrome in
children. There
is a rare, but serious, form of fatty liver that
begins late in pregnancy and may cause jaundice
and liver failure.
Fatty liver may also be caused by certain
drug overdoses or toxic chemical poisonings, such
as carbon tetrachloride.
All these causes injure the liver in some
way that makes the liver cells accumulate fats.
What
are the symptoms?
Fatty liver usually produces
no symptoms.
In rare cases, it causes jaundice,
right-side abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and
fever. Women
with pregnancy-related fatty liver may experience
nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal
pain. It may also cause a condition known as pre-eclampsia
or eclampsia, which is characterized by
dangerously high blood pressure, swelling, and
seizures.
How
is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will perform a
physical examination, paying close attention to
the liver area. The liver may be tender when the
abdomen is pressed.
An enlarged liver without any other
symptoms usually suggests fatty liver.
Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis with
blood tests for liver function, and by performing
a liver biopsy.
With a biopsy, the doctor uses a long,
hollow needle to remove a small sample of liver
tissue for examination under a microscope.
An ultrasound or abdominal CT scan may also be
performed to evaluate your liver.
What
is the treatment?
Treatment for fatty liver is
aimed at eliminating or treating the cause of the
condition. In
fact, fatty liver is usually reversible. In some
cases, fatty liver is reversible if caught early
in its development. Pregnancy-related fatty liver is treated by
delivering the baby, if viable.
In cases of malnutrition, the goal is to
develop a healthy diet, sometimes with the aid of
vitamin and mineral supplements.
Severe liver damage can occur if fatty
liver is left untreated.
In these cases, the patient may eventually
require a liver transplant.
Self-care
tips
You can prevent fatty liver
by maintaining a well-balanced diet and limiting
alcohol consumption.
Good prenatal care will help to recognize
the symptoms of fatty liver in pregnant women
before the condition becomes serious.
To prevent Reye's syndrome, children should never be given
aspirin to treat colds and viruses.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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