Project Flashcards
What are your lines?
4
Medical scientist play a major role in diagnosing NAFLD and our main job is to carry out blood tests.
We test blood for increased levels of the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by carrying out an APRI test which determines the ratio of these liver enzymes to our platelets.
We test for these enzymes because when the liver is damaged, ALT and AST are released into the bloodstream and their levels increase.
We may carry out a FIB-4 score and NAFLD fibrosis score using our APRI results to predict the severity of fibrosis in later stages of NAFLD
What is NAFLD?
It is the presence of too much fat in the liver in people who drink little to no alcohol
How prevalent is NAFLD?
3
More prevalent in men
Risk increases with age
Higher risk in those who are obese or diabetic
What are the symptoms of NAFLD?
6
Fatigue Pain and discomfort in the upper-right abdomen Abnormal swelling Yellowing of skin and eyes Red palms Enlarged spleen
Where is the liver situated in the body?
3
Sits in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen,
Inferior to the diaphragm
Resting on top of the gall bladder
Describe the structure of the liver.
4
The liver is divided into right and left lobes which branch into further lobes.
The functional unit is the lobule which is hexagonal in shape.
A portal triad, consisting of a portal vein, hepatic artery and bile duct, sits at the corner of the hexagon.
The lobule is composed of hepatocytes
List some functions of the liver
5
- creating proteins responsible for blood clotting
- breaking down old and damaged red blood cells
- storing extra blood sugar as glycogen
Production of bile
Production of cholesterol
List some of the changes that happen to the liver due to NAFLD.
(4)
Liver becomes slightly yellow and slightly greasy
Structure of hepatic lobes becomes irregular
Numerous fat vacuoles are present in hepatocytes
Eventually scarring - cirrhosis will occur
List the different ways of diagnosing NAFLD.
Blood test
Ultrasound - shows fat accumulation around liver
Biopsy - used in the later stages to test for cirrhosis
What is the prognosis for NAFLD?
If nothing is done it will progress to the later stages and will cause liver failure and cirrhosis
How is NAFLD treated?
4
It is treated through lifestyle changes such as:
Lose weight
Reduce fat intake
Exercise,
Treat high blood/pressure, cholestrol & Diabetes
How does NAFLD progress?
4
First steatosis occurs which is where lipid droplets become visible in hepatocytes
Then Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis occurs which is the inflammation of the liver and accumulation of fat
Then fibrosis occurs which is where liver tissue becomes scarred
Fibrosis then leads to cirrhosis which is where scarred tissue replaces healthy functioning tissue leading to defective liver function
