What can cause a fatty liver?
The main cause is a collection of high amounts of fat within the liver. There are two types of fatty liver, one that develops due to excessive consumption of alcoholics, and the other that develops in non-drinkers.
Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Chronic alcoholism can lead to a slow and progressive liver failure. The first phase of an alcoholic liver disease is a fatty liver (also called “alcoholic steatosis”). The damage is usually reversible if the patient becomes determined and abstinent; but with continued drinking, the result can be unfortunate. When this happens, liver cells gradually die and being replaced by scar tissue. Excessive amounts of scar tissue can lead to a liver failure and/ore cirrhosis.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Until couple of year ago, it was believed that a non-alcoholics fatty liver was just a curiosity, because it was a result of of being overweight, or a diabetic. Recent studies have concluded that a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a different disease, which can lead to serious consequences. NAFLD includes several different levels:
- Simple Fatty Liver (steatosis)
This is caused because of deposition of fat in the liver. It usually does not lead to liver inflammation or scar tissue, and the risk of progressive liver damage is relatively low. There are no identified symptoms for simple fatty liver. - NASH (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)
In the year 1980, scientists from Mayo Clinic noticed that some changes on liver biopsies in non-alcoholics people that looked quite similar to the liver damage as seen in chronic alcoholics who continue to drink. Besides the excess of fat, there were some signs of inflammation, and that the liver cells are dying (necrosis). They named this condition “Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, or NASH. Steatohepatitis is the result of “steato” that means fat, and “hepatitis” that means liver inflammation.
NASH considered to be more severe than other forms of Non-Alcoholic fatty liver. This is because the simple fact that liver cells are dying. Patients who suffer from NASH are one stage closed to liver cirrhosis. In the United Status, NASH is now considered to be the 3rd most common cause of liver disease in adults (followed by hepatitis C and alcohol).This is most popular cause of liver disease among adolescents.
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