What to do about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the United States. Almost unheard of before 1980, NAFLD is now believed to affect as many as 30% of adult Americans and is expected to become the main reason for liver transplant by 2022. NAFLD is not a single disease but rather a spectrum of disorders, all marked by the accumulation of fat inside liver cells. Under the microscope, this fatty buildup looks just like alcohol-induced fatty liver disease, but it occurs in people who consume little or no alcohol (less than two drinks a day for women). The condition usually causes no symptoms and few, if any, complications. However, some people with NAFLD go on to develop irreversible liver damage that can result in liver failure and cirrhosis. Not enough is known yet to predict exactly who will progress to serious liver disease, but certain risk factors have been identified that may help clinicians fine-tune diagnosis and treatment.
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