Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is an ailment that is accompanied by the accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes. Such a process affects the functioning of the body and can lead to dangerous complications. Unfortunately, the clinical picture is often unclear, and therefore the disease is diagnosed, as a rule, already at the last stages of development.
Because the pathology is quite common, many people ask questions about what constitutes non-alcoholic hepatosis of the liver. Symptoms and treatment, causes and complications are important points to consider.
What is a disease? Brief description and etiology
NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a very common pathology characterized by the accumulation of lipids in liver cells (hepatocytes). Since fat droplets are deposited inside the cells and in the intercellular space,violations of the functioning of the body 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 modern problem. According to studies, the prevalence of the disease is about 25% (in some countries, up to 50%). True, the statistics can hardly be called accurate, because it is rarely possible to diagnose an illness on time. By the way, men, women, and even children are prone to it. Mostly suffer from the disease in developed countries, which is associated with an office, immobile lifestyle, constant stress and malnutrition.
Main causes of fatty disease
The question of why and how NAFLD develops is still being studied at many research centers. But over the past few years, scientists have been able to identify several risk factors:
- Overweight (most patients with this diagnosis are obese).
- On the other hand, fatty liver can also develop against the background of a 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 mellitus, especially type 2.
- Increased risk of developing the disease in people with chronic hypertension.
- NAFLD can occur with elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Potentially dangerous istaking certain drugs, in particular antibiotics and hormonal drugs (birth control pills, glucocorticosteroids).
- Risk factors include malnutrition, especially if the diet contains foods rich in easily digestible carbohydrates and animal fats.
- The disease develops against the background of diseases of the digestive tract, including dysbacteriosis, ulcerative lesions of the machine, pancreatitis, impaired absorption of nutrients by the intestinal walls.
- Other risk factors include gout, lung disease, psoriasis, lipodystrophy, cancer, heart problems, porphyria, severe inflammation, free radical buildup, connective tissue disorders.
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, severe 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 droplets 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 negative factors, the disease can move to the next stage of development.
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, in which the accumulation of fat is accompanied by inflammation.
- Fibrosis is the result of a prolonged inflammatory process. Functional liver cells are gradually replaced by connective tissue elements. Scars are formed 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 scarring. The structure and functioning of the organ is disrupted, which often leads to liver failure.
What symptoms accompany the disease?
Many people are diagnosed with non-alcoholic hepatosis of the liver. Symptoms and treatment are 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 timely diagnosis, because patients simply do not seek help.
What are the symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? Symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- Due to disorders in the liver, patients often complain of digestive disorders, in particular, nausea, heaviness in the abdomen that occurs after eating, problems with stool.
- Signs include increased fatigue, recurrent headaches, severe weakness.
- In the later stages of development, there is an increase in the size of the liver and spleen. Patients Complainon heaviness and pain in the right hypochondrium.
- Approximately 40% of patients can observe hyperpigmentation of the skin on the neck and armpits.
- You may have spider veins (a network of dilated capillaries) on your palms.
- The inflammatory process is often accompanied by yellowness of the skin and sclera of the eyes.
Childhood obesity
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 underage patients.
Proper diagnosis is important here. That is why, during scheduled 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 the disease in time. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children may not require any specific treatment (especially if it is detected early). Correction of the diet and proper physical activity contribute to the normalization of the liver.
Diagnostic activities: laboratory tests
If this pathology is suspected, laboratory tests of the patient's blood samples are carried out. When studying the results of the analyzes, it is worth paying attention to the following indicators:
- In patients there is an increase in the activity of liver enzymes. The rise is moderate, approx.3-5 times.
- Carbohydrate metabolism disorder observed - patients suffer from impaired glucose tolerance, which is similar in symptoms to type 2 diabetes.
- Another symptom is dyslipidemia, which is characterized by elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
- Disruption of protein metabolism and an increase in bilirubin levels are observed only in advanced cases.
Instrumental examination of the patient
In the future, additional tests are carried out, in particular, an ultrasound examination of the liver and abdominal organs. During the procedure, the specialist may notice areas of lipid deposition, as well as increased echogenicity. By the way, ultrasound is more suitable for diagnosing diffuse fatty disease.
Additionally, magnetic resonance and computed tomography are performed. 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, with the help of tomography it is much easier to diagnose local foci of fatty liver.
Sometimes a liver biopsy is needed. Laboratory examination of tissue images helps to determine whether there is an inflammatory process, whether fibrosis is widespread, what are the prognosis for patients. Unfortunately, this procedure is quite complicated and has a number of complications, so it is carried out only in extreme cases.
Drug treatment of non-alcoholic hepatosis
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, despite its slow course, isdangerous, and therefore requires immediate treatment. Of course, the treatment regimen is drawn up individually, as it depends on many factors.
As a rule, first of all, patients are prescribed hepatoprotectors and antioxidants, in particular, drugs 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 insulin receptors. In particular, a positive effect is observed with the use of thiazolidinediones and biguanidines. In the presence of serious disorders of lipid metabolism, 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 get rid of excess weight. Sudden weight loss should not be allowed - everything must be done gradually.
As for the diet, first you need to start slowly reducing the daily energy value of foods. Fat in the daily diet should be no more than 30%. It is necessary to exclude foods that increase cholesterol levels, abandon fried foods and alcohol. The daily menu should include foods with a lot of fiber, vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Part of therapy is exercise. You need to start with feasible exercises(at least walking) for 30 - 40 minutes 3 - 4 times a week, gradually increasing the intensity and duration of classes.
Is it possible to treat folk remedies?
Traditional medicine offers a lot of tools that can improve liver function and rid the body of toxins. For example, it is recommended to mix dry plantain leaves with honey in a ratio 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 have a positive effect on the state of the liver. Since it is important to restore the patient's microflora, it is recommended to eat as many fermented milk products as possible. It must be understood that self-medication for hepatosis of the liver can be dangerous. Any remedy can only be used with the permission of the attending physician.
