what is steatohepatitis disease?
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Steatohepatitis or 'Fatty liver' is seen on imaging and represents fat deposits around the normal cells of the liver. This excess fat deposition can be seen in an alcoholic, but another entitity called "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" is quickly becoming more prevelant in the American population. \n\nNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (also known as NAFLD) is generally seen in patients with obesity, diabetes, and/or high cholesterol. Insulin resistance is the proposed cause. It is estimated that about 10% of our population has fatty liver disease. \n\nNAFLD is now the most common cause of elevated liver enzymes in the United States. When enzyme elevation occurs (indicating liver damage) it is call non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (or NASH). It is estimated that 2-5% of the Americans have NASH. \n\nIn most patients there are no harmful effects; however, in those with NASH there are cases of progression to liver cirrhosis and liver cancers. In fact, NASH is the third most common cause of cirrhosis (after Hepatitis C and alcoholism). \n\nPatients with elevations of LFTs and steatohepatitis should be referred to Gastroenterology for a possible liver biospy.  The imaging studies can not rule out cirrhosis due to fatty liver - hence the possible need for a biopsy. \n\nThere is no drug treatment for NAFLD/NASH currently (although there is promising data with the diabetic medication Metformin). In general, treatment consists of improving diabetic control, losing weight if overweight, and improving your cholesterol and triglycerides by diet and/or medications.
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The liver is an organ in vertebrates, including humans. It plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body including glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis, and drug detoxification. It also produces bile, which is important in digestion. It has been described as the chemical plant of the body, as it performs and regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions requiring specialized tissues. Medical terms related to the liver often start in hepato- or hepatic from the Greek word for liver, hepar.
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Lissacal\n4 hours ago\n\n\n \n "Liver cancer has a very poor prognosis because it is often not diagnosed until it has metastasized. Fewer than 10% of patients survive three years after the initial diagnosis; the overall five-year survival rate for patients with hepatomas is around 4%. Most patients with primary liver cancer die within several months of diagnosis. Patients with liver cancers that metastasized from cancers in the colon live slightly longer than those whose cancers spread from cancers in the stomach or pancreas."\n\nhttp://www.lifesteps.com/gm/atoz/ency/li... \n\nBUT:  enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly) does not neccesarily mean liver cancer.\n\nCommon Causes of Hepatomegaly:\nAlcohol \nHepatitis A \nHepatitis B \nCongestive heart failure \nInfectious mononucleosis \nLeukemia \nTumor metastases \nNeuroblastoma \nHepatocellular carcinoma \nNiemann-Pick disease \nHereditary fructose intolerance \nGlycogen storage disease \nPrimary biliary cirrhosis \nSarcoidosis \nSclerosing cholangitis \nHemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) \nReye's syndrome \nSteatosis (fat in the liver from metabolic problems such as diabetes, obesity, and high triglycerides) \nGeneral causes include infection (viral, bacterial, or parasitic), malignancy (cancer or tumors), anemias, storage diseases, heart failure, congenital heart disease, toxins, and metabolic disturbances.\n\nhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003275.htm
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Treatment    Return to top \n\nTreatment for this disease concentrates on avoiding low blood sugar. Frequent feedings are needed during the day, especially foods that contain carbohydrates (starches). Neither fruit nor milk sugar can be adequately broken down in this disease, and are best avoided.\n\nOvernight fasting is avoided by continuous feedings (through a tube that goes through the nose into the stomach) of sugars or uncooked cornstarch. The tube can be put in at bedtime and taken out each morning. A medication called allopurinol, which can lower blood uric acid and decrease the risk for gout, is often used.\n\nSynonyms:\nvon Gierkes disease\nGlucose-6-Phosphatase Deficiency Glycogen Storage Disease\nType I Glycogenosis\nHepatorenal Glycogenosis\n\nIn Type I Glycogen Storage Disease, the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase is defective in the liver, kidney, and small intestine, where it normally functions. However, the metabolic problem is centered in the liver.\n\nPatients with Type I GSD are unable to release glucose from glycogen. They cannot maintain their blood glucose levels and within a few hours after eating develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The low levels of glucose in the blood of these patients often result in chronic hunger, fatigue, and irritability that is especially noticeable in infants. Symptoms of hypoglycemia only begin to appear when the interval between feedings increases and the infant sleeps through the night or when an illness prevents normal feeding routine. If the blood sugar falls to a low enough point, some patients may experience seizures. \n\nSince Type I patients are able to store glucose as glycogen but not release it normally, with time the stored glycogen builds up in the liver. Hormones, lactic acid, triglycerides, and other products are increased in the blood as the body attempts to raise blood sugar. Fats are stored in the liver along with the glycogen, which leads to enlargement of the liver. The liver does its many other functions normally, and there is not usually any evidence of liver failure. The kidneys are also enlarged due to glycogen accumulation. \n\nThe continued presence of low blood sugar eventually leads the body to experience severe biochemical abnormalities and delayed growth and development. Untreated patients may have muscle wasting and a buildup of body fat.\n\nWhen blood studies are done, it is discovered that there is usually a low blood sugar, elevated blood lactic acid, elevated cholesterol and other fats, and elevated uric acid concentration. High blood pressure has also been seen in a number of patients and when this occurs, appropriate treatment must be given.\n\nIn addition to the problems described above, patients with Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ib can develop frequent bacterial and fungal infections, due to abnormal functioning of the white blood cells. They may also develop chronic pancreatitis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn's disease. \n\nThe diagnosis of Type I GSD will always include blood studies, x-rays (including some of the kidneys), measurements, and ultrasound of the liver. Gene-based mutation analysis can be used to diagnose the majority of Type I patients, while liver biopsy analysis may be needed in some cases. \n\nThe treatments of Type I Glycogen Storage Disease are aimed at correcting the biochemical abnormalities and promoting growth and development. Current treatments consist of providing a continuous source of glucose by giving the patient glucose drinks frequently during the day and, in most cases, continuously overnight. Many medical centers have replaced these glucose feedings with uncooked cornstarch doses, mixed in water, Kool-Aid, or formula. \n\nLinks:\nvon Gierke Disease info from National Organization for Rare Disorders            [NORD]\nOMIM GSD Type I on Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man\n     searchable database\nGSD Type I from emedicine\nAmerican Liver Foundation information on Type I\nvon Gierke D
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very serious disease of the blood vessels in the biliary tract, ie. connection btn liver-gallbladder-bowel.\nthe blood supply to those areas is threatened and can cause necrosis (meaning tissue dies off). this needs to be seen by a general surgeon asap!
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A laboratory report of elevated liver enzymes is common. It doesn't indicate a specific disease. However, it may be due to a liver disorder, even if you don't have any symptoms of liver problems. To determine the underlying cause of elevated liver enzymes, your doctor may recommend further testing.\n\nLiver enzymes help maintain a variety of chemical and metabolic processes that occur in the liver. Normally, only very small amounts of these enzymes are present in your blood.\n\nCommon causes of elevated liver enzymes include:\n\nMedications, such as certain non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cholesterol-lowering medications, antibiotics and anti-seizure medications \nDrinking too much alcohol \nObesity \nDiabetes \nElevated triglycerides \nInfection, such as viral hepatitis and mononucleosis \nAutoimmune disorders of the liver and bile ducts, such as autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis \nMetabolic liver disease, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease \nExcessive use of certain herbal supplements, such as kava, comfrey, pennyroyal and skullcap \nTumors of the liver or bile ducts \nTreatment of elevated liver enzymes depends on the underlying cause. It is important to tell your doctor about any nutritional or herbal supplements you are taking.\n\nFor further info related to elevated enzymes and different diseases please go to the website below.
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Major causes of liver swelling are 1. Alcoholic liver disease 2. Infections by viruses like hepatitis A virus 3. Malnutrition 4. Tumors.
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OMG, my good friend is going through the exact same thing, however she went to a specialist for her "weight gain" issue in San Diego, Ca.  She now has a rare fatty liver  disease.  They took a bunch of blood work and that is what they found.  She keeps gaining weight a few pounds a month over a 9 month period, bad head aches, no energy, the tingling in her hands and slept all the time.  The local doctors here did not find it.  The specialist told her that it is because the doctors were only looking for certain things and the test he ran checked for everything.  You might want to find a specialist in your area.
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Yep, too much alcohol consumption will pickle your liver, cause cirrhosis and in turn cause jaundice. You do have to be a very heavy drinker for a fairly long period of time for this to happen, unless your liver is already compromised and unhealthy.
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I see this frequently on abdominal ultrasounds.\n\n"Many chemicals, such as alcohol and drugs can cause fatty liver.  Fatty liver can occur in diabetes mellitus and in pregnancy. It can also be seen in starvation and obesity. In addition, it is also a minor symptom of hepatitis.  The treatment of fatty liver depends on what is causing it, and generally, treating the underlying cause will remove the problem."\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_liver\n\n"Fatty liver is usually reversible if recognized and treated. There may be some long-term tendency toward other types of liver problems depending on how long and how severe the fatty liver condition was. Severe liver damage that may require a liver transplant can occur in the mother if the condition is not recognized early."\n\nhttp://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/fatty_liver.jsp
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Bronze diabetes (hemochromatosis) \n \nA genetic disease in which the body takes in too much iron from food; this causes excess iron to be deposited in the liver and heart and other organs, eventually leading to organ failure and death. This illness is called "bronze diabetes" because the kidneys often fail, leading to symptoms similar to those found with diabetes mellitus, and because the deposition of iron into the skin makes the person look like he or she has an all-over tan.\nIt used to be believed that this disease was rare and mainly affected people of Caucasian descent, but in recent years scientists have realized it is more common and affects a wide range of ethnic groups. Some believe that this genetic defect actually helps people (especially women) survive in areas where malnutrition is widespread and iron is scarce in food.\nRegular bloodletting (or blood donation) may help people suffering from this disease.
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A wide variety of things can cause this.  You can learn about the most common ones by clicking on the different Liver categories on the following list\n\nhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/encyclopedia_L-Ln.htm\n\nBest wishes!
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The liver is one of the hardest working organs in the human body. But sometimes the liver is overworked and begins to show signs that it isn’t functioning at total capacity. Some of the signs of liver problems are fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, bruising or bleeding easily, bloating due to a fluid buildup in the abdomen and declining mental function. Liver problems often make the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow, a condition called jaundice, and may cause swelling in the legs and the abdomen. A human cannot live without a liver that works. If your liver fails, your doctor may put you on a waiting list for a liver transplant. In adults, the most common reason for liver transplantation is cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is caused by many different types of liver injuries that destroy healthy liver cells and replace them with scar tissue. Cirrhosis can be caused by viruses such as hepatitis B and C, alcohol abuse, buildup of fat in the liver, and autoimmune and hereditary liver diseases.
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Hi There\n\nDo a cleanse and you'l be on your way to better health.\n\nQ. Why is a liver cleanse so important?\n\nA. Doing a colon cleanse and a liver/gallbladder cleanse are two very important things if you want to cure yourself of disease. It is important to know that the liver is the major fat burning organ in the body. The liver is the only organ that can pump fat out of the body, and the liver is the filter and cleanser of the bloodstream. Every single person, in my opinion, has a sluggish liver. If your liver is sluggish you cannot burn fat properly, you cannot get fat out of the body properly, and you cannot filter and clean your blood properly. Therefore, if you have a sluggish liver you are absolutely guaranteeing yourself illness and disease. Your liver is sluggish because of all the chemicals and toxins in the food that you eat, and all the nonprescription and prescription drugs. Most notably, if you are on cholesterol-reducing drugs, you absolutely have a sluggish liver. If you have ever taken an antibiotic in your life, the antibiotic has killed the friendly flora in your intestine, causing a Candida yeast overgrowth, which always goes and attacks the liver. When you do a liver cleanse, almost everyone feels so much better they can't believe the difference. \n\nBest of health to you\n\nCheers
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yes The liver is found within the lower part of the rib-cage on the right hand side of the body.  It has a huge variety of functions in the body and is the only organ that can repair and re-grow itself after damage. The liver is the second largest organ in the body and is often seen as the most important one. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, a healthy liver is seen as the most critical element in the body's ability to fight disease and function optimally. \n\nFor this reason, complimentary and holistic medicine always emphasizes liver health as one of the most vital components in overall systemic health. Amongst other important functions, the liver is responsible for eliminating and detoxifying the poisons that enter our blood stream. \n\nIt is very important in the digestion of food and produces bile which is essential in the breakdown of fats, thereby preventing obesity – one of the biggest contributors to ill health. It also regulates blood sugar and stores any excess sugar in a useful “quick-release” form for when it is needed. The liver clears the blood of  old red blood cells, bacteria and other infectious organisms as well as ingested toxins including alcohol. It is responsible for producing a large number of different proteins including hormones and blood clotting factors and is the organ which stores Vitamin A, D, E and K. \n\nEnvironmental pollution, fast foods, drugs, alcohol and sedentary lifestyles all contribute to sluggish and diseased livers. The result? Depressed immune systems, constant fatigue, obesity, sluggish livers and digestive systems, allergies, respiratory ailments, unhealthy skin and many other health problems.
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Do you mean cystic fibrosis?\n\nCystic fibrosis (CF), also called mucoviscidosis, is an autosomal, recessive, hereditary disease of the exocrine glands. It affects the lungs, sweat glands and the digestive system, causing chronic respiratory and digestive problems. It is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. It is the most common fatal autosomal recessive disease in Caucasians.
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Please check out this site.  There is a wealth of information on it.  http://www.curezone.com/cleanse/liver/