Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver): causes, symptoms and types

The liver is one of the most important organs in the body: it is responsible for processing and eliminating waste products. waste to prevent them from accumulating through their participation in processes such as metabolism or function immune. When liver activity is severely affected, the person's life is at very high risk.

In this article we will talk about the causes, symptoms and types of hepatic steatosis or fatty liver, one of the most common disorders of this organ, which predisposes to the appearance of cirrhosis (pathological scarring of the liver) if not adequately treated by lifestyle changes, particularly abstinence from alcohol.

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What is hepatic steatosis?

Hepatic steatosis is a disease, often asymptomatic, that It consists of the accumulation of fats in the cells of the liver.; the most common are triglycerides, which are related to atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia. The name most used by most people to designate this disorder is "fatty liver".

It is a reversible disease, since its evolution generally depends on the occurrence of changes in habits and lifestyle, such as adopting a healthy diet or stopping the consumption of alcohol. Nevertheless, hepatic steatosis can progress to cirrhosis if it is not handled properly.

The prevalence of this disorder varies greatly depending on the country to which we refer; while in some it is approximately 10%, in many rich countries this figure exceeds 20% of the population. In any case, hepatic steatosis is a very common disease, especially in obese people.

Signs and symptoms of this disorder

Hepatic steatosis often manifests as an asymptomatic disorder, or only nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue or abdominal discomfort appear. This is why many people are not aware that they have this problem if no physical examination detects a characteristic sign: a slight increase in the size of the liver.

Most of the fatty liver symptoms are associated with inflammation of this organ. When this happens, symptoms such as a feeling of fatigue, physical weakness, confusion, pain in the abdomen, decreased appetite and consequently decreased body weight.

The liver has a certain ability to repair itself. This process occurs through the generation of new liver cells that replace those that are damaged. However, if the liver is overstressed, chronic tissue scarring can occur; when steatosis progresses to this point we speak of liver cirrhosis.

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Causes of fatty liver

When fats accumulate in excess in the liver, the functioning of this organ is altered; This means that our body cannot properly eliminate the waste substances that enter our body, especially through what we eat and drink.

Alcohol abuse and dependence are the most common causes of hepatic steatosis., since excessive consumption of this substance causes liver damage. When this is the main causal factor in the onset of the disease, the terms "alcoholic fatty liver" and "alcoholic fatty liver" are used.

Some of the most relevant risk factors for the appearance of fatty liver are obesity, diets rich in sugars and fats (which can cause type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia) and being older; most cases occur between 40 and 60 years. Genetic inheritance and the use of aspirin or steroids are also associated with this disorder.

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Types of hepatic steatosis

In general, cases of fatty liver are classified according to whether their cause is excessive alcohol consumption or something else. However, there is also a special variant that is worth mentioning: acute hepatic steatosis of pregnancy.

1. Non-alcoholic fatty liver

non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis is usually associated with disorders in the breakdown of fats; this causes them to accumulate in the liver. The basic criterion used to diagnose this variant of fatty liver is that at least 10% of the tissue of this organ is made up of lipids.

2. alcoholic fatty liver

Alcoholism damages liver cells and interferes with their function; this includes the breakdown of lipids. If, once alcoholic hepatic steatosis has been detected, alcohol consumption continues, it is very likely that the disorder will progress to cirrhosis; instead, after about two months of abstinence, steatosis subsides.

3. Acute and associated with pregnancy

This type of hepatic steatosis is a rare complication that appears in the third trimester of pregnancy. Symptoms tend to go away after childbirth and include a feeling of general malaise, lower back pain, upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes