Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a district general hospital: clinical presentation and risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects one-fifth of the adult population and is currently the commonest liver problem in the western world. The prevalence of NAFLD is likely to rise over the coming decades in parallel to the obesity and diabetes epidemics. A retrospective study was undertaken in a UK. district general hospital (DGH) to determine the clinical and laboratory features of patients with NAFLD.


RESULTS
A total of 48 patients with NAFLD were identified. Most (54%) were asymptomatic on presentation and 90% had an echogenic liver on ultrasonography (USS). Liver tests were elevated in the majority, but did not distinguish between simple steatosis and steatohepatitis. Having features of the metabolic syndrome and a low platelet count (P = 0.028) may help identify patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
NAFLD is common in the DGH and should be considered in all patients with metabolic risk factors. A liver biopsy should be considered in those with low platelets, type II diabetes mellitus, and the metabolic syndrome.
Syn
Wing-Kin
WK
Princess Royal Hospital, Apley Castle, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 6TF, UK, wsyn@doctors.org.uk.
Nightingale
Peter
P
Bateman
Jeffrey M
JM