Fatty liver is an accumulation of fat in liver cells. The condition is caused by an excessive supply of breakdown products of fats. The capacity of the liver, which is usually healthy, then fails to process these breakdown products. Fatty liver is the most common liver disease.

Cause

Cause

The liver plays, among other things, a significant role in fat metabolism in the body. If this fat metabolism gets disrupted, fat may accumulate in liver cells. The fat in the liver isn’t harmful in itself. However, because in this situation the liver is sensitive to other harmful influences and thus may damage easily, it’s still important that the cause of the fatty liver is found and the condition is addressed. The most common causes of fatty liver are:

Symptoms

Symptoms

Fatty liver usually causes no symptoms. Some people suffer from (vague) pain in the right upper abdomen and fatigue. In rare cases there is jaundice. This is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Fatty liver is often accidentally determined by abnormal blood values or during an ultrasound. In physical examination, the liver may be slightly enlarged or sensitive, but not necessarily. In blood tests, usually slightly elevated liver values are determined, but sometimes normal values as well. When in doubt, the general practitioner can refer the patient for further examination. Fatty liver can usually be well detected by ultrasound. During an ultrasound, the liver can be imaged using sound waves. Fat accumulation in the liver is usually clearly visible.
The most convincing diagnosis is made by liver biopsy. In the liver, the doctor sucks some tissue away. The biopsy sample is then examined in a laboratory on the amount of fat in the liver cells.

Treatment

Treatment

There is no treatment that can cure fatty liver. However, fatty liver is a reversible process, the liver has a healing ability. Treatment, therefore, is made up of eliminating the cause. The fat accumulation will usually disappear by itself then. For many people, this means an adjustment of lifestyle and dietary habits: not drinking alcohol, healthy and varied food (low fat) and weight loss. A healthy diet and additional exercise also reduce any existing insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes needs to be treated with medication.

Prognosis

Prognosis

The prospects are generally good. However, if fatty liver is present for a long time, an inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) can occur. This inflammation can eventually pass into liver cirrhosis. This is a serious disease that may extend even further.

Considerations

Considerations

Facts

Facts