Nafld Health Dictionary

n. a condition in which the liver responds to liver cell (*hepatocyte) injury or death by replacing damaged tissue with interlacing strands of fibrous tissue and nodules of regenerating cells. The liver becomes tawny and characteristically knobbly in appearance (due to the nodules). Causes include chronic *alcoholism (alcoholic cirrhosis), viral *hepatitis, *nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic obstruction of the common bile duct (secondary biliary cirrhosis), autoimmune diseases (chronic autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis), sclerosing *cholangitis, and chronic heart failure (cardiac cirrhosis). In a small minority of cases no cause is found (cryptogenic cirrhosis). Complications include *portal hypertension, *ascites, *hepatic encephalopathy, and *hepatoma. Cirrhosis is irreversible. The withdrawal or treatment of causative factors prevents further deterioration of liver function. Liver transplantation may be considered when liver failure has become established. Complete abstinence from alcohol should be recommended to those patients with cirrhosis secondary to alcoholic liver disease. —cirrhotic adj.... cirrhosis

(NAFLD) a spectrum of conditions affecting the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. NAFLD is a common cause of referral for patients with abnormal liver function tests. Fatty liver is excessive fat accumulation in the liver seen as an area of brightness within the liver on ultrasound examination. Fatty liver does not lead to irreversible liver damage in the majority of cases. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is inflammation of the liver associated with accumulation of fat. It is often linked to insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and *metabolic syndrome. Treatment involves dietary modification, regular physical exercise, weight reduction, and management of underlying conditions (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, and hiperlipidaemia). NASH may predispose to *cirrhosis and may ultimately require liver transplantation.... nonalcoholic fatty liver disease