What is Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis?

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a form of liver disease which occurs in people who drink little to no alcohol. While many people associate liver disease with alcohol consumption, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis actually affects as much as five percent of the population in some regions, and it can be caused by many different things. This condition is usually diagnosed in its later stages, with the patient experiencing steatohepatitis for many years without being aware of it.

The word “steatohepatitis” literally means “fatty liver inflammation.” It occurs when fat on the liver causes irritation, which can lead to scarring. Eventually, this can cause cirrhosis, and the liver will cease to function at all. If nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is allowed to progress to cirrhosis, the patient may require a liver transplant, because the liver may be so badly damaged that it cannot recover, despite the fact that the liver is a remarkably durable organ.

In ordinary fatty liver disease, people have fat on their livers, but they do not experience ill effects. However, people with fatty liver are at risk of developing steatohepatitis. One cause of steatohepatitis can be overall weight; the larger someone is, the more chance that deposits of fat will form on the liver. Another cause can be prescription medications, with some medications such as steroids contributing to buildups of fat on the liver. Insulin resistance can be another factor. In other cases, people appear to develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis for no apparent reason.

This condition is most commonly identified when someone has a liver enzyme test and the levels are unusually high, indicating that there is a problem with liver function. In other cases, someone may progress to the development of symptoms such as jaundice as a result of impaired liver function before the disease is caught. To confirm nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, it will be necessary to perform a biopsy to take a sample of the liver tissue for analysis. In a lab, a pathologist can confirm that there is fat on the liver, and if the patient's history indicates little to no alcohol consumption, the condition is classified as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

There is no cure for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. However, there are some treatment options. Modifying one's diet, avoiding alcohol altogether, and exercising can sometimes slow or stop the progress of the disease. Likewise, being careful about the intake of certain medications and foods to avoid aggravating the liver can be helpful. Regular liver function tests can determine how well controlled the patient's nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is, and can show whether or not additional steps need to be taken.