Fatty Liver Disease

[hondamama29]

Who can tell me about fatty liver disease? Is it staged? Is it serious? Are there treatments? I was just diagnosed with this from my liver biopsy. I don't have afollow up for another 4 weeks and I'm nervous.  Thanks Anyone!

[grendslori]

What was it like having a liver biopsy. I'm headed for my first one and know nothing about how they are done? Inpatient, outpatient? Whay is usually done? How long does it take and how do they do it?

[fred236]

i have celiac disease,but when it was diagnosed i was so sick,i decided to treat that by stupid diet.i used honey(mix with water before meal 3 times a day)then mixing dry mint with one egg and 2 small potato for 3 times daily)i done this diet for 80 days maybe you think i am stupid which i am.then after one year i had biopsy again which doctor told me it is absolutely normal.but instead i got fatty liver and every day getting bigger.then i started to eat gluten and after near one year i am losing weight and  itching  also i have pain in my legs and top of penis and around it which seems getting bigger.
i think i used too much honey because it has fructose (Jarah honey very popular in Australia)it caused my liver damage.
do you think i can get better if i reduce any sweet things?

[hondamama29]

Thanks for all your input.  I see the Dr. late Dec. and at least I'll have an idea of what's going on.

[Bob368]

Fatty liver is just what its name suggests: the build-up of fat in the liver cells. Although this is not a normal condition, fat in the liver usually causes no damage by itself. On some occasions, it can be a sign that other more harmful conditions are at work. Fatty liver may be associated with or may lead to inflammation of the liver. This can cause scarring and hardening of the liver. When scarring becomes extensive, it is called cirrhosis, and this is a very serious condition. It is therefore important that a physician thoroughly examine a patient with fat in the liver.

It would seem logical that eating fatty foods would cause a fatty liver, but this is not the case. The liver does play an important role in the metabolism or breakdown of fats. Something goes wrong in this process of metabolism, but it is still not known what does cause fat to build-up in the liver. It is known that fat accumulates in the liver with a number of conditions. The most common is obesity. Fatty liver is also associated with diabetes mellitus, high blood triglycerides, and the heavy use of alcohol. It may occur with certain illnesses such as tuberculosis and malnutrition, intestinal bypass surgery for obesity, excess vitamin A in the body, or the use of certain drugs such as valproic acid (trade names: Depakene/Depakote) and corticosteroids (cortisone, prednisone).

In most instances, treatment of fatty liver and steatohepatitis requires control of the underlying conditions. This may include reduction of high blood triglycerides, good control of diabetes, or not drinking alcohol. In some cases, surgical reversal of intestinal bypass for obesity is required.

Since being overweight is by far the most critical factor, weight loss is the key to ridding the liver of fat. This is especially necessary if damage to the liver is occurring, and early signs of scarring are present on biopsy. High blood triglycerides and diabetes are also worse with obesity. So, when steatohepatitis is present with these conditions, people gain even greater benefits from losing weight. Losing weight can be difficult; however, it must be done because the alternative may be eventual cirrhosis and the need for a liver transplant.

Take care

Bob :)