Is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis life threatening?
NASH (or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) is a type of NAFLD that can damage the liver. NASH occurs when the fat buildup in the liver leads to inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring. NASH can be life-threatening, as it can cause liver scarring (called cirrhosis) or liver cancer.
What are the symptoms of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis?
NASH may lead to cirrhosis of the liver, causing one or more of the following symptoms as the condition progresses:
- Bleeding easily.
- Bruising easily.
- Itchy skin.
- Yellow discoloration in the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Fluid accumulation in your abdomen.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea.
- Swelling in your legs.
What is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis?
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is caused by buildup of fat in the liver. When this buildup causes inflammation and damage, it is known as NASH, which can lead to scarring of the liver. Scarring of the liver is a potentially life-threatening condition called cirrhosis .
What are the complications of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis?
The main complication of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is cirrhosis, which is late-stage scarring (fibrosis) in the liver.
What is Nash (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)?
Clinics for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) NASH is a serious condition in which fat replaces healthy liver tissue in people who consume little or no alcohol.
How is Nash diagnosed and treated?
The only way to definitely diagnosis NASH and separate it from simple fatty liver is through a liver biopsy. For a liver biopsy, a needle is inserted through the skin to remove a small piece of the liver. NASH is diagnosed when examination of the tissue with a microscope shows fat along with inflammation and damage to liver cells.
