NAFLD

Question 1

What does NAFLD stand for?

Answer 1

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Question 2

What is NAFLD due to?

Answer 2

Fat deposits can interfere with the functioning of the liver cells.

Question 3

What is NAFLD the most common form of?

Answer 3

Liver disease in the developed world

Question 4

When does NAFLD start to become a problem?

Answer 4

When it progresses to fibrosis and cirrhosis

Question 5

What are the stages of NAFLD?

Answer 5

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Fibrosis
Cirrhosis

Question 6

What is steatosis?

Answer 6

Fat in the liver

Question 7

What is steatohepatitis?

Answer 7

Fat with inflammation

Question 8

What does NAFLD form part of?

Answer 8

“metabolic syndrome” group

Question 9

What is the metabolic syndrome group?

Answer 9

Group of chronic health conditions relating to processing and storing energy that increase risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes

Question 10

What do the metabolic syndrome group increase the risk of?

Answer 10

Heart disease
Stroke
Diabetes

Question 11

What are the main 2 causes of NAFLD?

Answer 11

obesity
type 2 diabetes mellitus

Question 12

What are the main features of NAFLD?

Answer 12

usually asymptomatic
hepatomegaly
ALT is typically greater than AST
increased echogenicity on ultrasound

Question 13

What will be increased on an ultrasound in someone wit NAFLD?

Answer 13

Increased echogenicity

Question 14

Is someone with NAFLD usually symptomatic?

Answer 14

No- asymptomatic

Question 15

What might be enlarged in someone with NAFLD?

Answer 15

The liver

Question 16

How can NAFLD be diagnosed?

Answer 16

Ultrasound- fatty changes

Question 17

What is the first line test that can be used to assess the extent of the fibrosis in somone with NAFLD?

Answer 17

Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) blood test

Question 18

What is the problem with teh enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) blood test?

Answer 18

It isn’t available everywhere

Question 19

What can be used for assessing liver fibrosis when ELF is not available?

Answer 19

NAFLD fibrosis score

Question 20

How is the NAFLD fibrosis score calculated?

Answer 20

Based on an algorithm of age, BMI, liver enzymes, platelets, albumin and diabetes

Question 21

What is the function of the NAFLD fibrosis score?

Answer 21

Helpful in ruling out fibrosis but not assessing the severity when present.

Question 22

What is the third line assesssment of fibrosis in NAFLD?

Answer 22

Fibroscan

Question 23

What is a fibroscan?

Answer 23

Ultrasound that measures the stiffness of the liver and gives an indication of fibrosis

Question 24

When is a fibroscan carried out?

Answer 24

When ELF or NAFLD fibrosis score indicates firbosis

Question 25

What is the main management of NAFLD?

Answer 25

Weight loss

Question 26

What other treatment might someone with NAFLDL recieve?

Answer 26

Vitamin E Pioglitazone

Question 27

What is NAFLD thought to represent?

Answer 27

The hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and hence insulin resistance is thought to be the key mechanism leading to steatosis.

Question 28

What blood tests reults might indicate NAFLD?

Answer 28

ALT is typically greater than AST