Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Overview

Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most chronic cause of liver disease and is often caused by lifestyle factors like obesity. In a healthy liver there is no fat deposition. On the contrary there is excessive fat deposition on the liver despite low or no alcohol consumption in individuals with NAFLD.

The following are the stages of NAFLD

Non-alcohol related fatty liver or steatosis: fat accumulates in the liver cells without any inflammation or scarring.
Non-alcohol related steatohepatitis (NASH): Scarring of liver due to fat deposition
NASH with fibrosis: scar tissue builds up and replaces healthy liver tissue.
Cirrhosis: Irreversible damage to the liver leading to end stage liver failure.

Causes

There has been a lot of controversy on the exact causes of fat deposition in the liver in non-alcoholics. However, the following have been identified as possible causes.

Symptoms

In case of advanced disease

Risk factors

Diagnosis

Most patients remain asymptomatic until there is serious damage to the liver. Hence diagnosis of NAFLD comes into picture only when other tests point to a liver problem. Diagnostic tests to assess the extent and severity of liver damage include

Treatment

There are no specific drugs recommended for NAFLD. Primary treatment strategy involves lifestyle modification including

For patients with advanced liver cirrhosis liver transplant might be indicated.