Obesity detonates cases of fatty liver and cirrhosis

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Obesity detonates cases of fatty liver and cirrhosis
 

– Reported, May 13, 2013

 

If during the last decade of your life you have suffered obesity, perhaps have experienced many of its bad consequences, but almost certainly will not have thought of a, usually circumvented, even by doctors: fatty liver disease. A disorder that often goes unnoticed 20 years or more, before discovering the liver damage … which by then will be detonated cases of cirrhosis.

Fatty liver is the accumulation of fat and generates trapped inflammation of liver cells. Its origin mainly associated with alcohol consumption is also common in people with obesity, diabetes and hypertension (metabolic syndrome) in this case as NAFLD.

“Up to 90 percent of overweight and obese people have fatty liver,” said Dr. Arturo Panduro Cerda, Chief of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde (HCG). Although NAFLD is often considered “benign” because in many patients causes no complications, the specialist stressed the need to diagnose this condition.

“The problem is that among these obese patients with fatty liver, 15 to 20 percent can present liver inflammation. Inflammation that leads to cystic fibrosis and cirrhosis. So the problem is that people who will submit cirrhosis in the future, “he said. This phenomenon is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and no less. By contrast, is one of the major risk factors cirrhosis.

“The most important thing is that this process is not detected, it may take more than 20 years without realizing it and when he realizes it is because of cirrhosis, when the liver is already hard,” he said. This hardness is a consequence of fibrosis [accumulation of collagen fibers] and not noticeable to the patient.

In an interview with MILLENNIUM JALISCO, Panduro Cerda, who is working for years to researching this disease, said why some patients with fatty liver will develop cirrhosis and others: “The main reason is genetic susceptibility, [… ] no specific genes will favor that develop fatty liver patients with cirrhosis, and [incidence] is higher in Hispanic population. “

The high rate of overweight and obesity in Mexico -70 percent of adults 20 years and ethnic heterogeneity makes feasible an increase in cases in the coming decades. “Today liver diseases are among the five leading causes of death in Mexico. The number one cause of liver disease is alcohol. The number two cause are viruses and the third right now is becoming this condition: non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, “said the interviewee.

STAGES

Liver damage from the disease evolves in four stages: in the first three constant inflammation and fibrosis is spreading. The fourth is no cirrhosis.

The Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine HCG is one of the three hospitals in Mexico to have a team (fibroescaner) to detect any of these four stages without biopsy (diagnostic standard procedure involving abdominal puncture remove a sample of liver tissue). Using this technology, doctors can make earlier diagnosis and also seek to establish strategies to reverse this liver damage.

The study protocol led by Dr. Panduro has 300 documented cases of patients with fatty liver and are very young: 30 to 50 years old, men and women. “We are detecting the problem in people who are obese for ten years”, said the interviewee. Making expected to increase due to increased instances of obesity.

The good news is that the harm caused by this disease can be halted and even reversed. At first, the recommendation of the specialist is to combat overweight and lifestyles change, which is a requirement if you already have diagnosed fatty liver.

The challenge is incoming patients in the advanced stage, when cirrhosis and is manifested by fatigue, enlarged liver, fluid in the abdominal cavity and spit blood, hence the importance of early intervention.

 

What is fatty liver?

-It is the accumulation of fat in liver cells

-What causes excessive intake of alcohol and is also common in people with obesity, diabetes and hypertension

-Certain drugs, cocaine abuse and viral infections (AIDS virus and hepatitis C) are other causes of fatty liver

-Most patients have no symptoms

-The NAFLD may be benign but progressive inflammation of the liver cells (NASH) is a precursor to cirrhosis

-Fatty liver disease is behind 30 percent of cirrhosis cases

-There are genetic factors that might explain the progression of fatty liver to cirrhosis

-Fatty Liver Treatment includes combat overweight and obesity in a gradual manner and under surveillance, avoid alcohol and unnecessary drugs. Some drugs such as antioxidants are adjuvant
 

Source: Arturo Panduro Cerda. Head of Molecular Biology in Medicine. Old Civil Hospital of Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde

Credits: http://www.milenio.com/
  

 

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