Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (patient information)
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
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Where to find medical care for Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? |
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2]
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Overview
It is normal for the liver to contain some fat but when in Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] it is due to the deposition of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol.when there is more than 5 -10 percent of the liver’s weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).It is estimated that in united states approximately 80 to 100 million people are affected with NAFLD.NAFLD most commonly affects people in the age group of 2-19 and 40-50 years.
What are the symptoms of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
- Weakness
- Liver enlargement
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Breast enlargement
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Enlargement of spleen
What causes Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
- Obesity
- Insulin resistance
- Metabolic syndrome
- Hormonal imbalances
- Oxidative stress - A imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants
- Endotoxemia - The presence of endotoxins in the blood which may cause hemorrhages, necrosis of the kidneys, and shock.
- Mitochondrial abnormalities
Who is at highest risk?
- People who are over weight(Obese)
- Patients with insulin resistance
- Patients with metabolic syndrome
Diagnosis
- Ultrasound(USG).
- Computer tomography (CT).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Liver Biopsy.
- Fibroscan.
When to seek urgent medical care?
- When patient skin and sclera changes to yellow color.
- When patient experinence abdomen swelling.
- Pain in the right upper quadrant.
Treatment options
- There is no one FDA approved specific treatment for NAFLD.
- Rosiglitazone is recommended for all patients who develop NAFLD.
- Patients with NAFLD shows benefit when using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in combination with vitamin E.
- Moringa Oleifera (MO), the leaves of these plant have been studied extensively and it has shown to be beneficial in NAFLD and in prevention and alleviation of NAFLD.
Where to find medical care for Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Prevention
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Exercise on regular basis.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
- Prognosis estimate for NAFLD as of now is low.
- Depending on the extent of the fibrosis and cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may vary.
- The presence of fibrosis and cirrhosis associated with a particularly poor prognosis among patients with NAFLD.