Laboratory abnormalities often are the only sign of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The most common abnormal laboratory test results are elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), usually one to four times the upper limits of normal.
Having high levels of fat in your liver is also associated with an increased risk of serious health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. If you already have diabetes, NAFLD increases your chance of developing heart problems.
5'-nucleotidase test.
This test measures the levels of 5'- nucleotidase (an enzyme specific to the liver). The 5'- nucleotidase level is elevated in persons with liver diseases, especially those diseases associated with cholestasis.
Three major types of tests are used to diagnose NAFLD: (1) blood tests such as liver function tests that measure inflammation of the liver; (2) tests to visualize the appearance of the liver, such as ultrasound, computed tomographic (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and (3) newer tests that quantify the ...
Emerging evidence has shown that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as an underestimated metabolic abnormality, is strongly associated with an increased risk of incident prehypertension and hypertension.
Fatty liver is most commonly diagnosed by a routine liver function test drawn from your blood. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a specific marker for liver inflammation and is typically elevated in individuals with a fatty liver.
Imaging procedures used to diagnose NAFLD include: Abdominal ultrasound, which is often the initial test when liver disease is suspected. Computerized tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen.
Blood tests
A low level of serum albumin suggests your liver is not functioning properly. A blood test may also look for signs of abnormal blood clotting, which can indicate significant liver damage.
ALT levels greater than 15 times the normal range indicate severe acute liver cell injury and evaluation should be initiated immediately. The differential diagnosis for patients with severe acute liver injury (ALT levels >15 times the normal range) is relatively limited.
10–40 IU/L. High. >36 U/L. >1,000 U/L are very high levels and may be a sign of liver injury or hepatitis. >40 IU/L which may be a sign of liver inflammation.
In a community-based study of 1346 Japanese patients with diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, the cutoff value of ALT for diagnosis of this disease was estimated to be 25 U/L in men and 17 U/L in women[39].
Steatosis is graded by the pathologist from 0 to 3 based on its severity: grade 0 (normal) = <5%, grade 1 (mild) = 5%–33%, grade 2 (moderate) = 34%–66%, and grade 3 (severe) = ≥67% of hepatocytes characterized by macroscopic steatosis [17].
The normal treatment for fatty liver disease, whether it's alcohol-related or not, is to reach a healthy weight through diet and exercise. So what should you eat? In general, foods that fight cell damage, make it easier for your body to use insulin, or lower inflammation can help reverse the condition.
An average period of 6 weeks to 2 months is an expected timeframe to recover from fatty liver disease. However, lifelong adherence to particular diet and lifestyle changes may be necessary to prevent relapse.
How long it takes to reverse fatty liver disease may depend on the cause. If your fatty liver is because of alcohol, you may be able to reverse the effects in about 2 weeks. If you have NAFLD, it will depend on how quickly you lose weight. But remember, be careful not to lose weight too quickly.
However, fatty liver disease can enlarge the liver. When this occurs, may cause pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen, which is the area between the hips and chest. Early symptoms can include: loss of appetite.
If you've been diagnosed with any fatty liver disease, let your health care provider know if you have any symptoms that mean the disease is getting worse. These include fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, fluid retention, or bleeding.
Another 20% to 30% of individuals progress to more advanced NASH fibrosis, and the final stage is NASH cirrhosis. It used to be thought that progression from early stage NAFLD to cirrhosis took decades, but recent studies have shown that some people progress rapidly within 2 years.
When the liver does not process and break down fats as it normally should, too much fat will accumulate. People tend to develop fatty liver if they have certain other conditions, such as obesity, diabetes or high triglycerides. Alcohol abuse, rapid weight loss and malnutrition may also lead to fatty liver.
An ALT test result of >100 IU/l is a clear indicator of serious liver disease, but a mildly elevated ALT result (30–100 IU/l) is often ascribed to the use of medication (for example statins) or alcohol, obesity, or, for lower ALT levels (<50 IU/l), considered as part of the normal distribution of test results.