Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Extract

• Obesity and diabetes, as well as alcohol consumption, are the most significant predictors of severe liver events in many countries.
• The term non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a spectrum of diseases from pure non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis (NAFLD and F3 or F4 fibrosis), and liver cirrhosis (NAFLD and F4 fibrosis). NAFLD also increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Pure fatty liver (NAFL) need not be looked for in patients with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes, and they need not be referred for assessment in specialized care for this purpose.
• In outpatient care, at least patients presumed to have advanced fibrosis should be identified (see Examination and diagnosis).
• A person may have several risk factors for fatty liver disease, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and alcohol consumption.
• The primary steps in treating fatty liver are provision of lifestyle guidance (weight loss and avoiding food and drink containing saturated fat and ‘fast’ sugars, such as soft drinks and sweets, and physical activity).
• See also the articles on Assessing patients with abnormal liver function test results Assessing a patient with an abnormal liver function test result1 and Metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome2.

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ALT, AST, Alcohol, Aminotransferases, Diet, Fatty liver, Fructose, Gastroenterology, Internal medicine, K73.80, K73.80, K76.0, K76.0, Life style, Lifestyle, Lifestyle changes, Lifestyle counselling, Liver, Liver biopsy, Liver disease, Liver enzymes, Living habits, NAFL, NAFLD, NASH, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Steatohepatitis, Transaminases, Ultrasonography, Weight management, Weight reduction