Connect with

Friday 19 April 2024

Peer Reviewed

Gastroenterology clinic

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Graeme Macdonald

Recent articles on:
Liver diseases

Intestinal failure – improving long-term survival

Haemochromatosis – a clinician’s guide

Nonviral hepatitis: common causes and their management

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abnormal liver function test results in pregnancy – causes and management

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects about 15 to 20% of the population and is linked to obesity. Its prevalence in the community is increasing with the rising prevalence of people who are overweight or obese.

Key Points

Remember

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of abnormal liver enzymes in the Australian community. Current estimates are that 15 to 20% of the adult population have NAFLD.
NAFLD is caused by the accumulation of triglyceride in hepatocytes. It coalesces into lipid droplets that displace cellular organelles to the periphery of the hepatocytes (Figure). This histological feature is called hepatic steatosis. The spectrum of NAFLD runs from bland steatosis to steatosis with hepatocyte injury, inflammation and fibrosis.
The more severe form of NAFLD is known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The prevalence of NASH is estimated to be 2 to 3% of the adult population. Patients with NASH are at risk of progressive liver disease, and about one-third of these patients will develop significant hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis. Once patients have cirrhosis they can develop life-threatening complications such as liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma.