Fatty liver (steatosis) is currently perhaps the second leading cause of liver damage, only behind the hepatitis C virus.

Its prevalence can be very high in our population because the main cause of it is metabolic syndrome, and metabolic syndrome should be understood as subjects with any of the following alterations: overweight, alterations in glucose metabolism, arterial hypertension, cholesterol or elevated triglycerides.

Its evolution can range from the simple presence of steatosis, to inflammation of the liver tissue (steatohepatitis) and even cirrhosis as a terminal event.

​

What is the difference between fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis?

​

Fatty liver or hepatic steatosis is only the presence of fat in the liver diagnosed by some imaging method (ultrasound, resonance, tomography), while non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is the presence of fat by the methods described plus the presence of manifested inflammation. by elevation of liver enzymes.

​

How are fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis diagnosed?

​

Through the aforementioned imaging methods and liver function tests.

​

Can this entity evolve to cirrhosis?

​

Yes, it is an entity with a natural course without treatment of being able to develop cirrhosis in about 30 years, but diagnosing and treating it at the right time can totally modify the course of the disease.

​

Which is the treatment?

​

Treatment varies from patient to patient, but the cornerstone in all is lifestyle modification with diet and exercise. In reference to medical treatment, depending on the alterations found, the treatment varies from insulin sensitizing drugs, thioglitazones, and antioxidants.

​

​

​

​