Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a liver disease characterized by excess
fat in the liver. This overload fat causes progressive destruction of liver
cells to cause an alteration of the essential functions of the liver. This
disease occurs in a non-alcoholic subject.
The severity of this disease lies in the fact that it usually remains
asymptomatic but yet evolving to cirrhosis.
Signs
The discovery of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is often
fortuite.Cependant, some signs may indicate the disease:
- Fatigue, loss of appetite associated with weight loss
- A yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- A dark urine
- Abdominal pain especially in the right upper quadrant (site location
of the liver). The abdominal pain is mainly triggered during palpation of the
abdomen.
- The subject may also have neurological symptoms such as memory loss.
Causes
The nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is usually secondary:
- A obesity
- At a neglected and poorly controlled diabetes
- A hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia
Triglycerides containing fatty acid substances, primarily energy source
and are stored in the fat cells.
Hypertriglyceridemia: elevated triglycerides in the blood
Cholesterol: high cholesterol in the blood
Some factors may increase the risk of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis,
including:
- A poorly controlled hypertension
- Taking certain medications: corticosteroids, antiretrovirals,
immunosuppressants.
Treatment
The treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is to support and prevent
various direct causes of the disease.
Diabetes, high cholesterol / triglycerides and overweight can be
combated by proper and well-conducted dietary measures:
- Regular exercise,
- Balanced diet: choose vegetable fats, fruits and vegetables,
- Weight Control,
- Systematic medical control of diabetes care and prevention of
complications,
- Regular and medical management of cholesterol and triglyceride
control.
- Control and management of hypertension.
- And of course the complete elimination of alcohol consumption (risk of
potentiation or worsening of the disease)
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