Sandbox:Gunnam
Nonalcoholic 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]
Overview
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is due to the deposition of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, when there is more than 5% - 10% percent of the liver’s weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).NAFLD is marked by inflammation that can progress to irreversible damage.It is similar to the damage caused by alcohol consumption in most of the cases. It is estimated that in united states approximately 80 to 100 million people are affected.The most common age for NAFLD to effect is in the age group 2-19 and 40-50 years.It is most commonly seen in Hispanic population when compared to Caucasian and African American populations[1]
Historical Perspective
Nafld is relatively new concept first introduced in 1980. Based on histology it is classified into non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) .NAFL mostly considered as a benign condition but recent studies shows it can progress to NASH up to 44%.On the other hand NASH progress to fibrosis that can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer (HCC).
Risk Factors
- NAFLD is related to obesity which will result in insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.[2][3]
- It is estimated that approximately 80% of the obese people suffer from NAFLD.[4]
- Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are more prone to develop Nafld[5][6]
- Patients with hypertension, and dyslipidemia are also associated with developing Nafld
Signs and Symptoms
Usually, Nafdl [Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease] presents with no or few symptoms and sighs but when it does it shows the following[7]
- Liver will be enlarged
- Patients presents with fatigue
- Abdominal swelling (ascites)
- Enlarged breasts in men ( due to decreased estrogen clearance by liver damage )
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- ↑ "Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease".
- ↑ "Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease".
- ↑ Sung KC, Jeong WS, Wild SH, Byrne CD (2012). "Combined influence of insulin resistance, overweight/obesity, and fatty liver as risk factors for type 2 diabetes". Diabetes Care. 35 (4): 717–22. doi:10.2337/dc11-1853. PMC 3308286. PMID 22338098.
- ↑ "Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease".
- ↑ "Nafld".
- ↑ "Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease".
- ↑ "Nafld".