The human liver is 60% composed of cells called hepatocytes, which perform the basic functions. With a disease such as liver hepatosis, there is a metabolic disorder in the hepatocytes, resulting in their dystrophic changes - the accumulation of substances that are normally contained in the liver cells should not.
Hepatosis of the liver is divided into pigment and fat. The first is a hereditary disease and is rare, so when talking about liver hepatosis, it is fatty hepatosis (steatosis).
Causes of fatty liver hepatosis
The exact causes of this disease are not defined. However, we can identify a number of factors that are associated with its occurrence:
- metabolic disorders (diabetes, obesity, etc.);
- exposure to alcohol, toxic substances, drugs;
- inefficient nutrition (starvation, gluttony, vegetarianism, raw food diet), leading to an imbalance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
- disturbances in the digestive system;
- helminthic invasions, etc.
Pathogenesis and symptoms of fatty liver hepatosis
With this disease in the hepatocytes accumulation of fats - triglycerides in the form of small and large drops. As a result, liver function is reduced, it does not cope with the removal of incoming unwanted substances (toxins, carcinogens, etc.) into the body, and the "surviving" cells become worn out more quickly due to overload. If an inflammatory process joins in, the result can be fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver.
Fatty hepatosis is a chronic, long-lasting disease, which is often not accompanied by characteristic symptoms. Therefore, it is found more often by accident, with ultrasound. In this case, there is an increase in the liver, the "brightness" of its tissues. However, some patients with liver hepatosis report the following symptoms:
- heaviness, unpleasant sensations in the upper right side of the abdomen, which increase with movement;
- fatigue, fatigue;
- nausea.
These phenomena can increase with mental or physical overstrain, infectious diseases, alcohol intake. For the diagnosis of hepatosis, methods such as liver biopsy, computer and magnetic resonance imaging are also used.
Treatment of fatty hepatosis
The treatment of this disease is rather complicated and includes several directions:
- diet;
- physiotherapy;
- drug therapy.
Preparations for the treatment of liver hepatosis:
- containing essential phospholipids (Essentiale, phosphoglue, Essler forte);
- sulfoamino acids (taurine, methionine, ademethionine);
- hepatoprotectors of plant origin (hofitol, karsil, etc.).
- vitamins PP, B2 and others.
Let's try to figure out whether hepatosis of the liver can be cured to the end. Hepatocytes refer to cells that are capable of regeneration. But it is important to create conditions under which the action of drugs restoring the liver will exceed the effect of the factors that led to the disease. That is, everything depends on the patient's desire for recovery, and if all recommendations are implemented in good faith, hepatosis is completely cured. The exception is only a neglected form with irreversible processes. In this case, only maintenance treatment can be used to prevent the disease from migrating to cirrhosis.
Hepatosis of the liver in pregnancy
There is a rare pathology of pregnancy, called acute fatty hepatosis of pregnant women. There is a disease with hepatic and renal insufficiency, a violation of blood coagulability. Symptoms of acute fatty liver hepatosis during pregnancy:
- itching;
- stomach ache;
- nausea, heartburn;
- jaundice - 1 to 2 weeks after the onset of the disease, etc.
Then there are bleeding from the uterus and other organs, there may be a hemorrhage in the brain. The disease is very serious and requires urgent cesarean section or termination of pregnancy. Then drug therapy is carried out.
As for the causes of this pathology, they are also not fully established, but there is an assumption about its hereditary nature. After a recent acute hepatosis, new pregnancies are allowed, and the risk of recurrent disease is minimal.