Steatohepatitis - what is it? Symptoms and treatment of steatohepatitis

In accordance with the average statistical data, liver diseases associated with a violation of the metabolism of fat, are becoming more common. Especially this applies to residents of America and Europe, who more often than others get an ominous diagnosis of "steatohepatitis". What is it and how to prevent this pathology? This is exactly what will be discussed.

Fatty disease and steatohepatitis

Due to the violation of the metabolism of acylglycerols (fats) and under-oxidized products in the gastrointestinal tract, the structure of the liver itself changes. But the most dangerous thing is that such changes are completely invisible, that is, it does not affect the health of the sick person. At least until the patient passes a medical examination. It is important to make a diagnosis on time and conduct competent therapy, since the dying liver cells are replaced with a connective tissue. Such processes invariably threaten complications, such as cirrhosis of the liver. It is important for a person with a similar ailment to stick to a diet.

Steatohepatitis - what is it? The disease occurs on the background of FZD (fatty liver disease), which provokes a number of ailments: hypertension, obesity, chronic hyperglycemia syndrome, atherosclerosis, etc. As a result, liver cells are supersaturated with triglycerides (neutral fats), which causes its structure to change and Develops fatty hepatosis. With time, oxidative processes begin in hepatocytes, which destroy liver cells. As a consequence, inflammation develops, which provokes the manifestation of statohepatitis. There are three forms of ailment: alcoholic, non-alcoholic and medicinal.

Alcoholic form

Most often, alcoholic stethohepatitis is manifested in people who suffer from a chronic form of alcoholism, and this is about 35%. Because 95% of alcoholic beverages are destroyed only in the liver cells, which invariably affects its functioning. The toxic effect of ethyl alcohol on the liver invariably causes inflammatory organ damage.

It is manifested by painful sensations in the region of the ribs (on the right side), psychopathological disorders, dyspepsia and icteric symptoms. The liver grows and becomes firmer, which is clearly palpable, which causes dull pain. In addition, the veins widen in the esophagus, which threatens internal bleeding.

As a result of inflammatory processes, the activity of transaminases increases, the level of triglycerides in the blood increases. The indicators of bilirubin, lipophilic alcohol, alkaline phosphatase, etc. change in the big direction. The most obvious symptom is the decrease in the activity of aminotransferases (liver enzymes) against the background of the withdrawal syndrome.

Diagnosis of chronic steatohepatitis can only be done after a complete examination: laboratory data, ultrasound, biopsy, palpation and communication with the attending physician.

It is important to protect liver cells from destruction and eliminate or at least minimize inflammatory processes. Stop the proliferation of connective tissue in the organ and prevent the development of cirrhosis.

Alcohol is strictly prohibited! Otherwise, the treatment will be useless.

Non-alcoholic form

Metabolic steatohepatitis arises from the over-saturation of liver cells with neutral fats - triglycerides. And as a consequence - oxidative and inflammatory processes, destruction of the body cells, proliferation of connective tissue and the development of cirrhosis. Recently, cases of non-alcoholic fatty hepatosis have increased.

The disease occurs against a background of excess weight, pancreatic diseases, a violation of fat metabolism, a sharp weight loss. Also, the cause may be malnutrition, namely protein deficiency, a decrease in the level of antitrypsin, and so on.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can occur on its own or be a consequence of other diseases. Without a laboratory examination a person may not notice its signs. Transaminases are activated, the size of the liver is increased. Many are diagnosed with NASH when they turn to the doctor with complaints about other diseases.

In order to cure or stop the development of the disease, it is necessary to normalize oxidative processes, accelerate the transport of neutral fats from the liver, reduce the accumulation of fats in the cells of the body and oxidative degradation of lipids. Oxidants damage the composition of membranes, nerve endings and break down the structural unit of nucleic acids.

An obligatory component of treatment is a diet. To choose a diet should be individually for each case, as the course of the disease in all patients is different. And thanks to properly selected diet therapy, it is possible to stop oxidative and inflammatory processes and stop the development of the disease.

It is strongly recommended to undergo a mandatory medical examination every six months to ensure that the disease does not become severe.

Dosage form

Another form is medicinal steatohepatitis. What is it and why does it arise? One can say for sure: the reason is not in the use of alcoholic beverages. As it is clear from the title, this form of the disease arises because of the intake of liver-hazardous medications. These include tetracycline antibiotics, synthetic estrogens, Chlorokvin, Delagil, preparations for the treatment of viral immunodeficiency, antifungal agents, and others.

If you take drugs from the risk group for a long time, then the functionality of the liver may be compromised. There is a violation of the oxidative processes of triglycerides, which most often forms LSG (drug steatohepatitis), the symptoms of which are quite unpleasant and palpable. Therefore, we must strictly adhere to the course of treatment, since complications can arise. The most dangerous pathology is the necrosis of liver cells of different degrees of severity.

In the risk group are people who have already experienced a violation of the functionality of the liver. Take such medications can only be on the advice of the attending physician and under his sensitive control. It is strongly recommended to take hepatoprotectors simultaneously with dangerous drugs.

Degree of defeat

The histological picture and the percentage of cell damage of the liver shows at what stage of development the disease is.

Steatogepatitis of minimal degree of activity occurs against a background of metabolic disturbances and is characterized by mild inflammatory processes. About 35% of cells are amenable to damage. Detection of the disease at an early stage ensures more effective treatment.

What can not be said about the serious form of the disease: fatty vesicles are defined in 70% of cells, and all this occurs against the background of a general severe inflammatory process.

The steatohepatitis of moderate activity is provoked by other diseases and is characterized by damage to approximately 68% of the cells, the inflammatory reaction is not too intense, but already more noticeable than in the first stage.

Causes

The root cause of this ailment is a metabolic disorder, the result of which can be the appearance of excess weight or, conversely, a sharp weight loss. A strict diet or overeating, too, can trigger steatohepatitis of the liver.

The main causes of the disease:

• Metabolic disease.

This includes overweight or sudden weight loss as a result of malnutrition. Endocrine diseases, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, as a result of which blood sugar sharply rises. The ratio of lipids (fat-like substances) in the blood changes. Introduction of glucose into the blood by the intravenous method. Transition to a completely prenatal diet.

• Medication intoxication.

Some medications can cause fatty hepatosis, as a result of which the liver cells become saturated with fats. This reaction can cause steroid hormones, drugs that inhibit or completely suppress cell division. And also antibiotics, a destination for the treatment of infectious diseases, and some anti-inflammatory drugs that lower fever and anesthetize.

• Operation in the field of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Diverticulosis of the intestine (saccular protrusion of the intestinal wall).
• Hepatocerebral dystrophy. This is a hereditary disease that is characterized by impaired metabolism of copper in the body.

Symptomatics

As already noted, depending on the causes that cause inflammation in the liver cells, there are three types of disease: alcoholic, medicinal and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Symptoms, the causes of the development of the disease and the methods of treatment in each of the cases are different.

The alcoholic form of the disease has such symptoms:

• The dimensions of the liver increase, it becomes denser, which is palpable.
• Painful sensations in the region of the ribs (on the right side).
• Digestive disorders, there are diarrhea or constipation.
• The patient strongly sweats and constantly wants to drink.
• Sensation of exhaustion and weakness.
• Appetite disappears, the person sharply grows thin.
• The patient constantly vomits, often displays vomiting.
• The skin and sclera of the eyes acquire a yellow tinge.

Signs of the medicinal form of the disease:

• Systematic painful sensations (acute pain) of the liver.
• Violation of bile secretion.
• The skin is painted in a characteristic yellow shade.
• There is irritation on the skin.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis symptoms has the following:

• Frequent painful sensations of the liver.
• The patient feels a constant weight in the abdomen.
• Exhaustion and weakness.
• Thirst and excessive sweating.

Diagnosis

The danger is that most often the disease runs slowly and has no obvious symptoms. The main signal of danger is painful sensations in the liver, its enlargement and compaction.

Modern medicine has many ways to diagnose various forms of the disease. Recently, most often it is registered alcoholic steatohepatitis, whose treatment is a very complicated and difficult process. That's why first of all there is an alcoholic anamnesis.

Stages of examination:

• Ultrasound of the liver for its increase and external change.
• Laboratory tests to determine the level of cholesterol, enzyme hydrolysis, globular protein, bile pigment, neutral fats, etc. It is these data that will help to identify the stage of development of the disease.

If in time to diagnose steatohepatitis moderate, the chance for a speedy recovery increases.

If, according to the results of the examination, no signs of alcoholic hepatosis are detected, then a study is conducted on the non-alcoholic form of the disease:

• Biopsy, which involves intravital fetal liver cells from the body of the patient.
• Ultrasound for the detection of excess weight or endocrine diseases. This study is conducted if the biopsy is not possible.

The medicinal form of the disease can be revealed by the attending physician, who prescribed drugs to the patient from the risk group. Methods of determination: ultrasound examination, CT scan, laboratory tests or diagnosis by biopsy.

The ideal option is the method of complex functional diagnostics.

Treatment and Complications

It is important to exclude the toxic effect on the liver, increase the sensitivity of the body to the action of insulin. And also normalize the exchange of fats in the cells and restore immunity. This is the main task for the attending physician and his patient. Steatogepatitis minimal activity is best treated.

In this case, the patient must always follow the recommendations of a specialist. It is important to avoid excessive physical activity. Sports should be dealt with, but in moderation: swimming, pilates and athletic walking are permissible. Especially it concerns people with excess weight.

Dietotherapy is prescribed for each patient individually. It is strongly recommended to abandon the acute and fatty foods, smoked products, various marinades and caffeine. Regardless of the results of treatment, the diet will have to be kept constantly. It is strictly forbidden to drink (even in a small amount) alcoholic beverages, since the disease will begin to develop even more actively.

Depending on the type of disease (alcoholic drug and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), treatment is carried out by different methods, different medications are prescribed.

But it is possible to allocate medicinal preparations which struggle with the basic signs of the given illness:

• Hypoglycemic agents for increasing insulin sensitivity.
• Bile acid preparations that lower the activity of transaminases and protect liver cells.
• Hepatoprotectors ("Essentiale Forte") in the form of capsules or ampoules. Their action consists in elimination of insufficient quantity of phospholipids in the patient's body.
• Gipolidimic drugs (statins), which lower the level of cholesterol in the blood.
• Any form of the disease, even steatohepatitis of minimal activity, requires in-patient treatment under the constant supervision of specialists. Since illiterate therapy provokes a risk of developing cirrhosis, liver fibrosis and even liver failure.

Diet

Most people who suffer from fatty hepatosis have problems with being overweight, and because sports and a hypocaloric diet are a chance for recovery. After all, in order to minimize inflammation in the liver, you need to lose weight. A serious illness that disciplines you is all steatohepatitis. Diet is a very important factor in the process of recovery. List of products that can and should be consumed: chicken (skin can not be), meat of calf, rabbit, boiled fish (river), protein, sour-milk products of minimal fat content. The animal proteins that are contained in these products stop the fatty degeneration of liver cells. What can not be said about animal fats: lamb, pork, beef, fat cream, etc. Instead of these foods, it is better to use vegetable or olive oil.

Complex carbohydrates, such as white cereals, flour and sweet, should be excluded from the diet. The consumption of vegetables, berries, greens, fruits, cereals and bran helps to lower the level of cholesterol in the blood.

It does not matter which form of the disease a person has: alcoholic, medicinal or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a diet is a must!

Prevention

To prevent the disease, it is extremely important to direct the forces to the treatment of the main pathologies that can provoke it: overweight, endocrine diseases, etc. Preventative measures are aimed at excluding the reasons that provoke it:

• Alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation.
• Balanced diet.
• It is necessary as soon as possible to cure the ailments that contribute to the development of fatty hepatosis.
• Accurate use of drugs that pose a danger to the liver. Along with them you need to take hepatoprotectors.

It does not matter what form of the disease is found in the patient: a diet is a prerequisite. And this means a ban on fried, fatty, spicy, smoked and various pickles. Only protein foods, vegetable fats, vegetables and fruits.

It is also important to lead an active lifestyle: a proper day schedule, a normal sleep (minimum 7 hours), personal hygiene and, of course, physical exercise. If you follow these rules, obesity does not exactly threaten you. In addition, immunity is increased, the metabolism is normalized, and in general the organism functions normally.

People with chronic fatty hepatosis should undergo treatment every year. In this way they will be able to avoid possible complications.

Treatment with folk remedies

Severe disease, which threatens with dangerous complications, is steatohepatitis. Treatment of this ailment can be supported by non-traditional medicines. In addition, complex therapy is approved by modern doctors.

One of the traditional medicines is the milk thistle, which restores liver cells and thereby stabilizes its functionality. Many effective natural preparations aimed at treating fatty hepatosis, as part of the extract of seeds of milk thistle.

How to prepare a powder of milk thistle against steatohepatitis

For the preparation of the drug you will need fruits (35 g). Grind the seeds in a blender until the powder is formed and use 1 teaspoon 6 times a day, with a glass of warm boiled water.

35 grams of milk thistle powder is the daily norm for the restoration of liver function. The course of treatment should last at least 40 days, after which you will notice how well you feel. The liver decreases to normal size, the unnatural compaction disappears, the metabolism of fats improves, and so on.

Medics themselves prescribe such medicines, since they are more natural and do not contain dangerous toxic components. Maybe they do not show such a quick result, but they are absolutely safe for the organism.

Naturally, it is strictly forbidden to take initiative without your doctor's approval! Since complex treatment can be prescribed only by a qualified specialist after a complete examination and observation of the course of the disease.

To reduce the inflammatory processes in the liver, you can try and such tools:

• Oil of almonds or apricots.
• Phyto-tea from St. John's wort, marigold, chicory and immortelle.
• Infusion of sage, sponge, repetish and horsetail.
• Fruits of viburnum and cranberries.

All these drugs have a positive effect on the functioning of the liver, especially in the initial stages of the disease. But for the treatment of more neglected forms, they are used only in conjunction with traditional medical products. And then only after the approval of the attending physician.

Steatohepatitis - what is it? This disease has many names: "pathology of civilized society", "quiet killer", obesity of the liver, etc. But whatever you call it, this is a serious illness that must be systematically, constantly and diligently combated. Do not do without patience, willpower and discipline. Yes, it may be hard, but life is more expensive, and it's worth it. The main thing is to follow the recommendations of the doctor and constantly follow his instructions. Only in this case it is possible to overcome this terrible disease!