Fatty Liver Disease
Stages of NAFLD
Source: NHS
In this topic (5)
NAFLD develops in four main stages.
Most people will only everdevelop the first stage, usually without realising it. In small number of cases itcan progress and eventually lead to liver damage if not detected and managed.
The main stages of NAFLD are:
- simple fatty liver (steatosis) a largely harmless build-up of fat in the liver cells that may only be diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason
- non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) a more serious form of NAFLD, where the liver has become inflamed; this is estimated to affect up to 5% of the UK population
- fibrosis where persistent inflammationcauses scar tissue around the liver and nearbybloodvessels, but the liver is still able to function normally
- cirrhosis the most severe stage, occurring afteryears of inflammation, where the liver shrinks and becomes scarred and lumpy; this damage is permanent and canlead toliver failure (where your liver stops working properly) and liver cancer
It can take years for fibrosis or cirrhosisto develop. It's important to make lifestyle changes toprevent the disease from getting worse.
Articles for Fatty Liver Disease
Am I at risk of NAFLD?
You're at an increased risk of NAFLD if you: are obese or overweight particularly if you have a lot of fat around your waist (an "apple-like" body shape) have type 2 diabetes have high blood pre
Introduction
Read about the symptoms, causes and types of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat within the liver cells.
Stages of NAFLD
NAFLD develops in four main stages. Most people will only everdevelop the first stage, usually without realising it. In small number of cases itcan progress and eventually lead to liver damage if not
Symptoms ofNAFLD
There aren't usually any symptoms of NAFLD in the early stages. You probably won't know you have it unless it's diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason. Occasionally, people with NASH o
Treatment for NAFLD
Most people with NAFLD won't develop any serious problems, but if you're diagnosed with the condition it's a good idea to take steps to stop it getting any worse. There's currently no specific medica