The Liver Disease You Might Not (But Should) Know About: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
If you’ve never heard of NASH, you’re not alone. NASH is a chronic, silent liver disease that worsens over time.
What is NASH?
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in which the patient has liver inflammation and damage, as well as fat accumulation in the liver.
“NAFLD is the most common liver disease in the world with varying prevalence depending on the geographical area, age distribution, and presence of other risk factors such as diabetes. NAFLD progresses to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in 20–30% of cases.”
- National Library of Medicine
People with NASH usually do not experience any symptoms and do not realize they have it until it has progressed. This is why it’s important to be aware of the risk factors for NASH and to take steps to reduce your chances of developing it, or to prevent it from progressing if you have already been diagnosed with the disease.
Causes and Risk Factors of NASH
NASH can affect people of all ages, races, and ethnicities, but it is more commonly found in people who have:
- Excess body weight
- Diabetes
- Abnormal levels of fats in the blood (bad cholesterol etc.)
- A poor diet
- Metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, high blood sugar etc.)
- An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
People with NASH have a high risk of cirrhosis, a condition in which scar tissue has accumulated in the liver, changing liver functions and leading to serious liver damage. Once cirrhosis has developed, serious complications of liver disease may occur, including liver failure, liver cancer, or even the need for a liver transplant.
Treatment for NASH
Although NASH affects a growing number of people, there is still no approved treatment for the condition. In the meantime, the following lifestyle changes can help manage the disease:
- Losing weight
- Controlling diabetes and cholesterol
- Avoiding things that can put extra stress on your liver
Talk to your doctor if you believe you are at risk of developing NASH.
Learn More
There are several clinical trials currently underway to help find potential treatment options for people with NASH. If you’d like to learn more about NASH clinical trials, sign up for our emails/notifications or search for clinical trials on Labcorp Clinical Trials.