Fatty liver – symptoms

Fatty liver symptoms in general

People with fatty liver have no symptoms in most cases. Sometimes sufferers feel a slight pressure or fullness in the right upper abdomen. These symptoms occur because the liver in the context of fatty liver disease can also be significantly enlarged (hepatomegaly) and therefore exerts pressure on the surrounding organs and the abdominal wall.

Also permanently elevated “liver values” in the blood test can be indicative of a fatty liver. The so-called liver values ​​are a series of blood values ​​that are released from the liver cells into the blood during liver damage. These include, for example, the enzymes GOT (also called AST) and GPT (also called ALT), as well as the bilirubin value and the enzyme gamma GT (GGT). However, elevated liver values ​​are not specific fatty liver symptoms, but, regardless of cause, only a general indication of liver damage.

At a physical examination it is sometimes possible to the doctor also to feel the enlarged liver. At the latest with the Bauchultraschall the changed liver structure becomes also visible.

Fatty liver symptoms in non-alcoholic cause

Fatty liver patients are often overweight and eat unhealthy food. They prefer greasy foods and regularly have elevated levels of fat in blood tests. However, even a low-protein diet and a fast weight loss can cause fatty liver. Many sufferers are diabetic or suffer from a metabolic syndrome. Long before they experience fatty liver symptoms, blood pressure and blood lipid levels are elevated. The stomach is thicker and often there is insulin resistance as in diabetes. If such risk factors exist, attention should increasingly be paid to fatty liver symptoms.

Fatty liver symptoms with alcoholic cause

Although increased alcohol consumption is the cause of fatty liver disease, initially no specific fatty liver symptoms appear. As an indicator, the alcohol consumption can serve: In women, the critical limit is regularly drunk 20 g of alcohol a day (for example, contained in 0.5 liters of beer), in men it is 40 g per day.

Symptoms of chronic alcohol consumption are often more likely to be recognized than fatty liver symptoms. The respiratory air of those affected smells of alcohol. If alcoholism disease is more advanced, patients often neglect personal hygiene or are no longer adequately nourished. For example, a resulting vitamin deficiency can damage the nerves.

Fatty liver symptoms in secondary diseases

The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease leads to about one in four, the alcoholic form even in almost every third person affected to hepatitis. The symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver hepatitis (NASH) and alcoholic fatty liver hepatitis (ASH) are not different. If the fatty liver cause is not resolved, liver cirrhosis may develop after a few years due to fatty liver disease. Cirrhosis is the most serious complication of fatty liver, as it is a non-reversible, life-threatening condition and cirrhosis of the liver also greatly increases the risk of liver cancer. It should be noted, however, that both hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver may be caused by causes other than fatty liver.

Liver inflammation symptoms

In a fatty liver inflammation (steatohepatitis), there is a pronounced inflammatory reaction in the liver. On the one hand, this inflammatory reaction can manifest itself in severe pain in the area of ​​the liver, for example in the area below the right costal arch. On the other hand occur due to the inflammation of the liver. For example, the blood breakdown product bilirubin can no longer be metabolized by the liver to a sufficient degree. The increased bilirubin level in the blood is also visible externally, as the bilirubin also deposits in the tissue and skin and eyes appear yellowish. This is also called icterus. Patients with fatty liver hepatitis also often suffer from a lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and occasionally fever.

Fatty liver symptoms in cirrhosis

If the disease progresses, liver cirrhosis may develop from fatty liver. Symptoms of this connective tissue change are very diverse, but not all occur. These include:

• Pressure and fullness in the upper abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss due to lack of appetite
• Yellowish discolored skin and eyes (jaundice) due to increased bilirubin levels in the blood
• Itching by bilirubin, or undegraded bile acids in the skin
• Spiderweblike changes of the skin (Spider naevi)
• Red palms (“palmar erythema”)
• Striking red, shiny lips (“paint lips”)
• Water retention in the legs (leg edema) and in the abdomen (ascites)
• Visible blood vessels around the navel (“Caput medusae”)
• Breast formation in men (gynecomastia)
• Decreased hairiness in the abdominal area in men (“Bauchglatze”)
• Blood coagulation disorder: for example, apparently from increased nosebleeds and bruises

Fatty liver symptoms in liver failure

Many patients are unaware that their liver is fatigued when no fatty liver symptoms occur. However, if the liver is already damaged, substances such as alcohol or certain medications can lead to more rapid liver failure. A liver failure unlike an initial fatty liver shows symptoms that can not be overlooked. Skin and eye white are discolored yellowish. The blood clotting is disturbed because the liver can no longer form coagulation factors. This creates even with small bumps blue spots. In case of major bleeding sufferers can also vomit blood or drop off a black discolored stool. In patients with liver failure, consciousness is impaired. They often talk slowly, can not remember much or are not really responsive. Common fatty liver symptoms can be complemented by high blood glucose levels and altered blood salts. In the case of liver failure, the same blood values ​​are greatly increased, as is symptomless fatty liver.

Fatty liver disease often only occurs when complications have already occurred. In order to prevent these consequences, non-specific ones must also be used Fatty Liver Symptoms taken seriously, diagnosed and treated quickly.