Fatty Liver Disease

• Definition
· Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is the disease of an accumulation of fat cells in the liver without alcohol use.

• Overview
· Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (fatty liver) is common.
· Fatty liver disease affects up to 30% of the US population
· Fatty liver can be caused by:
obesity
Cushing syndrome
diabetes mellitus
high cholesterol / fats
high blood triglycerides
medications such amiodarone, corticosteroids, diltiazem, tamoxifen, HIV medications
polycystic ovary syndrome

• Symptoms
People with Fatty Liver Disease (Nonalcoholic) do not usually have symptoms but occasionally may experience discomfort in the right upper abdominal area

• Complications
· Fatty liver Disease (Nonalcoholic) usually does not lead to other illnesses but occasionally can progress to:
liver cirrhosis
liver cancer

• Treatment
Fatty Liver Disease can be treated by:
dietary fat restriction
exercise
weight loss

References
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of pioglitazone in nondiabetic subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology. 2008 Oct;135(4):1176-84.  [PMID: 18718471]
Review article: diagnosis and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Sep 1;28(5):503-22.  [PMID: 18532991]

Posted on July 22, 2009

One Response to “Fatty Liver Disease”

  1. Health and Wellness: Medicues Fatty Liver Disease | health says:
    July 23, 2009 at 7:25 am

    [...] Read the rest here: Health and Wellness: Medicues Fatty Liver Disease [...]

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