NAFLD Flashcards
What does NAFLD stand for?
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
What is NAFLD due to?
Fat deposits can interfere with the functioning of the liver cells.
What is NAFLD the most common form of?
Liver disease in the developed world
When does NAFLD start to become a problem?
When it progresses to fibrosis and cirrhosis
What are the stages of NAFLD?
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Fibrosis
Cirrhosis
What is steatosis?
Fat in the liver
What is steatohepatitis?
Fat with inflammation
What does NAFLD form part of?
“metabolic syndrome” group
What is the metabolic syndrome group?
Group of chronic health conditions relating to processing and storing energy that increase risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes
What do the metabolic syndrome group increase the risk of?
Heart disease
Stroke
Diabetes
What are the main 2 causes of NAFLD?
obesity
type 2 diabetes mellitus
What are the main features of NAFLD?
usually asymptomatic
hepatomegaly
ALT is typically greater than AST
increased echogenicity on ultrasound
What will be increased on an ultrasound in someone wit NAFLD?
Increased echogenicity
Is someone with NAFLD usually symptomatic?
No- asymptomatic
What might be enlarged in someone with NAFLD?
The liver
How can NAFLD be diagnosed?
Ultrasound- fatty changes
What is the first line test that can be used to assess the extent of the fibrosis in somone with NAFLD?
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) blood test
What is the problem with teh enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) blood test?
It isn’t available everywhere
What can be used for assessing liver fibrosis when ELF is not available?
NAFLD fibrosis score
How is the NAFLD fibrosis score calculated?
Based on an algorithm of age, BMI, liver enzymes, platelets, albumin and diabetes
What is the function of the NAFLD fibrosis score?
Helpful in ruling out fibrosis but not assessing the severity when present.
What is the third line assesssment of fibrosis in NAFLD?
Fibroscan
What is a fibroscan?
Ultrasound that measures the stiffness of the liver and gives an indication of fibrosis
When is a fibroscan carried out?
When ELF or NAFLD fibrosis score indicates firbosis
What is the main management of NAFLD?
Weight loss
What other treatment might someone with NAFLDL recieve?
Vitamin E
Pioglitazone
What is NAFLD thought to represent?
The hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and hence insulin resistance is thought to be the key mechanism leading to steatosis.
What blood tests reults might indicate NAFLD?
ALT is typically greater than AST
