| Fatty Liver
The Liver
The liver is the largest organ in the body. It is found high in the right upper
abdomen, behind the ribs. It is a very complex organ and has many functions.
They include:
 | Storing energy in the form of sugar (glucose)
| Storing vitamins, iron, and other minerals
| Making proteins, including blood clotting factors, to keep the body
healthy and help it grow
| Processing worn out red blood cells
| Making bile which is needed for food digestion
| Metabolizing or breaking down many medications and alcohol
| Killing germs that enter the body through the intestine |
| | | | | |
The liver shoulders a heavy workload for the body and almost never complains.
It even has a remarkable power to regenerate itself. Still it should not be
taken for granted. Certain conditions that develop, such as fatty liver and
steatohepatitis, may be signs of liver injury that can lead to permanent liver
damage.
What is Fatty Liver?
Fatty liver is just what its name suggests: the build-up of fat in the liver
cells. Although this is not a normal condition, fat in the liver usually causes
no damage by itself. However, on some occasions it can be a sign that other more
harmful conditions are at work. Fatty liver may be associated with or may lead
to inflammation of the liver. This can cause scarring and hardening of the
liver. When scarring becomes extensive, it is called cirrhosis, and this is a
very serious condition. Therefore, it is important that a physician thoroughly
examine a patient with fat in the liver.
 Cause
It would seem logical that eating fatty foods would cause a fatty liver, but
this is not the case. The liver does play an important role in the metabolism or
breakdown of fats. Something goes wrong in this process of metabolism, but it is
still not known what does cause fat to build-up in the liver. It is known that
fat accumulates in the liver with a number of conditions. The most common is
obesity. Fatty liver is also associated with diabetes mellitus, high blood
triglycerides, and the heavy use of alcohol. It may occur with certain illnesses
such as tuberculosis and malnutrition, intestinal bypass surgery for obesity,
excess vitamin A in the body, or the use of certain drugs such as valproic acid
(trade names: Depakene/Depakote) and corticosteroids (cortisone, prednisone).
Sometimes fatty liver occurs as a complication of pregnancy.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
There are usually no symptoms that are noticeable to the patient. In fact, fatty
liver is frequently uncovered during a routine physical examination. There may
be a rise in certain liver enzymes found in the blood, and sometimes the liver
is slightly enlarged. Fatty liver may also be discovered while the physician is
evaluating a patient for other illnesses. For example, an ultrasound exam of the
abdomen done for other reasons may show fat in the liver. To be certain of a
diagnosis of fatty liver, the physician may recommend a liver biopsy. Under
local anesthesia, a slender needle is inserted through the right lower chest. A
small piece of liver tissue is taken out with the needle and examined under a
microscope.
What is Steatohepatitis?
The term hepatitis means inflammation of and damage to the liver cells. Steato
(pronounced stee-at´-toe) refers to fat. Therefore, steatohepatitis is
inflammation of the liver related to fat accumulation. Heavy alcohol use can
lead to fatty liver and inflammation, usually called alcoholic hepatitis.
Steatohepatitis resembles alcoholic hepatitis, but it can and does occur in
people who seldom or never drink alcohol. In this instance, it is often called
nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. Both alcoholic hepatitis and
steatohepatitis can lead to serious liver damage and cirrhosis.
Studies have shown that many people who are significantly overweight have
developed, or will develop, steatohepatitis. It can also occur with rapid weight
loss. Steatohepatitis has been connected to estrogen hormones in some women. In
the case of diabetes mellitus, researchers believe steatohepatitis may develop
only in those patients whose diabetes is not properly controlled.
Treatment
In most instances, treatment of fatty liver and steatohepatitis requires control
of the underlying conditions. This may include reduction of high blood
triglycerides, good control of diabetes, or not drinking alcohol. In some cases,
surgical reversal of intestinal bypass for obesity is required.
Since being overweight is by far the most critical factor, weight loss is the
key to ridding the liver of fat. This is especially necessary if damage to the
liver is occurring, and early signs of scarring are present on biopsy. High
blood triglycerides and diabetes are also worse with obesity. So, when
steatohepatitis is present with these conditions, people gain even greater
benefits from losing weight. Losing weight can be difficult. However, it must be
done because the alternative may be eventual cirrhosis and the need for a liver
transplant.
Currently, studies are underway on certain drugs such as Actigall. This drug
appears to reduce liver damage in cases of steatohepatitis. At this time,
however, it is not certain how helpful these drugs will be. To repeat the point,
losing weight is by far the most important treatment.
Liver Transplantation
Liver transplantation is now an accepted form of treatment for chronic, severe
liver damage. Advances in surgical techniques and the use of new drugs to
suppress rejection have dramatically improved the success rate. Steatohepatitis
is one of the more uncommon reasons for a liver transplant. However, every
transplant center does a few each year as a result of this disease. Survival
rates at transplant centers are well over 90% with a good quality of life after
recovery.
Summary
Fatty liver is simply the build-up of fat in the liver. Fat in the liver usually
does not cause liver damage. However, certain other conditions and diseases can
be associated with the development of fatty liver. Research is ongoing to
uncover what processes may take place to trigger fat build-up in the liver. This
condition is usually reversible when the underlying causes are treated or
removed. Patients who follow the advice of their physicians can expect to
reverse and control a fatty liver or steatohepatitis.
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