Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is an ailment that is accompanied by an accumulation of lipid drops in hepatocytes. A similar process affects the functioning of the organ and can lead to dangerous complications. Unfortunately, the clinical picture is often vague, and therefore the disease is diagnosed, as a rule, already at the last stages of development.
Since pathology is quite common, many people ask questions about what non-alcoholic liver hepatosis is. Symptoms and treatment, causes and complications are important points to consider.
What is a disease? Short description and etiology
NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a very common pathology, which is characterized by the accumulation of lipids in the liver cells (hepatocytes). Since drops of fat are deposited inside the cells and in the intercellular space, organ dysfunctions are observed. If untreated, the disease leads to dangerous complications, increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis or the formation of a malignant tumor in the liver.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a problem of our time. According to studies, the prevalence of the disease is about 25% (up to 50% in some countries). True, statistics can hardly be called accurate, because it is rarely possible to diagnose an illness on time. By the way, both men and women, and even children, are prone to it. Mostly they suffer from illness in developed countries, which is associated with an office, fixed lifestyle, constant stress and unhealthy diet.
The main causes of the development of fatty disease
The question of why and how non-alcoholic fatty liver disease develops is still being studied in many research centers. But over the past few years, scientists have managed to identify several risk factors:
- Overweight (most patients with this diagnosis are obese).
- On the other hand, fatty hepatosis can also develop against the background of sharp weight loss, because such a phenomenon is accompanied by a change in the level of fats and fatty acids in the body.
- Risk factors include diabetes, especially the second type.
- The risk of developing the disease in people with chronic hypertension is increased.
- NAFLD can appear against the background of increased levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood.
- Potentially dangerous is the use of certain drugs, in particular antibiotics and hormones (birth control pills, glucocorticosteroids).
- Risk factors include improper nutrition, especially if the diet contains dishes rich in easily digestible carbohydrates and animal fats.
- The disease develops against the background of diseases of the digestive tract, including dysbiosis, ulcerative lesions of the machine, pancreatitis, impaired absorption of nutrients by the intestinal walls.
- Other risk factors include gout, pulmonary disease, psoriasis, lipodystrophy, cancer, heart problems, porphyria, severe inflammation, the accumulation of a large number of free radicals, connective tissue pathology.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: classification and stages of development
There are several ways to qualify a disease. But more often, doctors pay attention to the location of the process. Depending on the place of accumulation of lipid droplets, focal disseminated, expressed disseminated, diffuse and zonal forms of hepatosis are distinguished.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease develops in four stages:
- Obesity of the liver, in which there is an accumulation of a large number of lipid drops in hepatocytes and intercellular space. It is worth saying that in many patients this phenomenon does not lead to serious liver damage, but in the presence of negatively influencing factors, the disease can go to the next stage of development.
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, in which the accumulation of fat is accompanied by the appearance of an inflammatory process.
- Fibrosis is the result of a long inflammatory process. Functional liver cells are gradually replaced by connective tissue elements. Scars form that affect the functioning of the organ.
- Cirrhosis is the final stage of fibrosis in which most of the normal liver tissue is replaced by scars. The structure and functioning of the organ is violated, which often leads to liver failure.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Many people are diagnosed with non-alcoholic liver hepatosis. Symptoms and treatment are the issues that interest patients the most. As already mentioned, the clinical picture of the disease is blurred. Often, obesity of the liver tissue is not accompanied by severe disorders, which greatly complicates the timely diagnosis, because patients simply do not seek help.
What are the signs of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? Symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- Due to abnormalities in the liver, patients often complain of digestive disorders, in particular, nausea, heaviness in the abdomen that occurs after eating, problems with stools.
- Signs include increased fatigue, periodic headaches, severe weakness.
- At later stages of development, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen is observed. Patients complain of severity and pain in the right hypochondrium.
- In approximately 40% of patients, hyperpigmentation of the skin on the neck and armpits can be observed.
- Perhaps the appearance of spider veins (a network of dilated capillaries) on the palms.
- The inflammatory process is often accompanied by yellowness of the skin and sclera of the eyes.
Fatty disease in children
Unfortunately, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is often diagnosed in children and adolescents. Moreover, over the past few days the number of such cases has increased significantly, which is associated with an increase in the level of obesity among minor patients.
Correct diagnosis is important here. For this, during routine school medical examinations, doctors measure the parameters of the child’s body, measure blood pressure, and check the level of triglycerides and lipoproteins. These procedures make it possible to diagnose an ailment in time. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children may not require any specific treatment (especially if it is detected at an early stage). Correction of the diet and proper physical activity contribute to the normalization of the liver.
Diagnostic measures: laboratory tests
If this pathology is suspected, laboratory tests of the patient's blood samples are performed. When studying the results of analyzes, it is worth paying attention to the following indicators:
- In patients, an increase in the activity of liver enzymes is observed. The increase is moderate, about 3 to 5 times.
- There is a violation of the metabolism of carbohydrates - patients suffer from impaired glucose tolerance, which according to the symptoms corresponds to type 2 diabetes.
- Another symptom is dyslipidemia, which is characterized by an increase in blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Impaired protein metabolism and increased bilirubin levels are observed only in advanced cases.
Instrumental examination of the patient
Further tests are conducted, in particular, ultrasound examination of the liver and abdominal organs. The specialist during the procedure may notice areas of lipid deposition, as well as increased echogenicity. By the way, ultrasound is more suitable for the diagnosis of diffuse fatty disease.
Additionally, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. These procedures allow you to get a complete picture of the patient's condition and the degree of progression of the disease. By the way, using tomography it is much easier to diagnose local foci of liver obesity.
A liver biopsy is sometimes necessary . A laboratory study of tissue images helps to establish whether there is an inflammatory process, whether fibrosis is spreading, what are the forecasts for patients. Unfortunately, this procedure is rather complicated and has a number of complications, therefore it is carried out only in extreme cases.
Medication for non-alcoholic hepatosis
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, despite its slow course, is dangerous, and therefore requires immediate treatment. Of course, the treatment regimen is compiled individually, as it depends on many factors.
As a rule, patients are primarily prescribed hepatoprotectors and antioxidants, in particular, preparations containing betaine, tocopherol acetate, silibinin. These funds protect liver cells from damage and slow down the development of the disease. If the patient has insulin resistance, drugs are used that increase the sensitivity of the receptors to insulin. In particular, a positive effect is observed with thiazolidinediones and biguanidines. In the presence of serious lipid metabolism disorders, lipid-lowering drugs are used.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: recommendations for patients
Since in most cases the disease is associated with obesity and metabolic disorders, patients are advised to follow a proper diet and lose weight. Sudden weight loss should not be allowed - everything should be done gradually.
As for the diet, for starters you need to start slowly reducing the daily energy value of products. Fats in the daily diet should not be more than 30%. It is necessary to exclude foods that increase cholesterol, abandon fried foods and alcohol. In the daily menu you need to include foods with a lot of fiber, vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Part of therapy is physical activity. You need to start with feasible exercises (at least walks) for 30 to 40 minutes 3-4 times a week, gradually increasing the intensity and duration of classes.
Is treatment possible with folk remedies?
Traditional medicine offers a lot of tools that can improve the liver and free the body of toxins. For example, it is recommended to mix dry leaves of plantain with honey in a proportion of 3: 1. Take a large spoon between meals 2 to 4 times a day. Within 40 minutes after taking the medicine, it is not recommended to drink water and, of course, eat.
A decoction of oat grains will positively affect the state of the liver. Since it is important to restore the patient's microflora, it is recommended to eat as many dairy products as possible. You need to understand that self-medication for liver hepatosis can be dangerous. Any tool can be used only with the permission of the attending physician.