Fatty Liver Disease
Fat buildup in the liver not related to alcohol use
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Care for Steatotic Liver Diseases
You may know that heavy alcohol use can take a toll on your liver. It first causes fat to accumulate in the organ before progressing to inflammation, then cirrhosis. But what you may not know is that your liver can go through similar changes even if you don’t drink. It might be less well known, but Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease can be just as serious as its alcohol-related counterpart. It can potentially lead to liver cancer or liver failure.
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease (MASLD) specialists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) Liver Center provide specialized care for this condition through our MASLD Program.
More About Non-Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
MASLD affects about one in four people in the world. In the U.S., it’s the most common chronic liver disorder. Both adults and children may be affected. It’s considered to be part of a metabolic syndrome — a group of symptoms or conditions that occur together and increase your chances of developing disease. Things known to put you at risk for MASLD include:
- Abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides
- Excess body fat around your waist
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Overweight
Other things that can cause NAFLD include:
- Certain chemicals
- Certain medications
- Certain metabolic diseases
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Malnutrition
- Rapid weight loss
Types of MASLD
Two types of MASLD include simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Simple steatosis: Simple steatosis is the most common form of NAFLD. It causes fat to accumulate in your liver cells, but it probably doesn’t damage your liver. It can, however, increase your risk of diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): NASH affects one out of three people with MASLD. It’s more serious than simple steatosis. Fat accumulation in NASH is linked with inflammation and scarring, also known as fibrosis. As the scar tissue accumulates in your liver, you have an increased risk of cirrhosis and liver failure.
It’s possible for you to feel fatigue or discomfort in your abdomen when you have MASLD. But most people don’t have any symptoms until the disease has progressed to the very end stage.
MASLD tends to develop in people who are overweight, have diabetes or have high triglycerides. If you’re at risk, or if you have abnormal liver function, doctors will take a detailed medical history and perform a full physical exam. They also do blood tests to rule out other liver diseases. To confirm a diagnosis, they order imaging tests, such as ultrasound, an MRI scan or a CT scan.
The Liver Center at BIDMC also offers a non-invasive diagnostic test for MASLD. It can quickly determine whether you have MASLD and/or whether you are at risk for progression to cirrhosis. This quick and easy test is similar to ultrasound. It’s available in many locations in and around Boston. MRI Elastography may be considered if your physician feels you need a more detailed evaluation.
Our Hepatologists in the Liver Center work with our pharmacists to determine if their are medications which would be appropriate for treatment of your disease. We also collaborate with endocrinology (endocrine gland and hormone care) and nutrition to provide you with the full spectrum of care.
We work closely with the Advanced Endoscopy Center and Transplant Institute. Whether you could benefit from medication, a special procedure, bariatric surgery or a liver transplant, we find the treatments that are right for you.
As part of our work to improve care for all people with NAFLD, we are also involved in leading-edge research. Our investigators and doctors are known around the world for their efforts.
If you’re at risk for NAFLD, taking steps to protect yourself is very important:
- Avoid excess alcohol.
- Be physically active.
- Don’t take any medications or supplements without discussing them with your doctor.
- Eat a healthy diet.
