Fatty Liver disease Treatment

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Diagnosis

Blood tests

  • Complete blood count
  • Liver enzyme and liver function tests
  • A buildup of fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites
  • Tests for chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis C and others)
  • Celiac disease screening test
  • Fasting blood sugar
  • Hemoglobin A1C, which shows how stable your blood sugar is
  • Lipid profile, which measures blood fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides

Imaging procedures

  • Abdominal ultrasound, which is often the initial test when liver disease is suspected.
  • Computerized tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen. These techniques lack the ability to distinguish NASH from NAFLD, but still may be used.
  • Transient elastography, an enhanced form of ultrasound that measures the stiffness of your liver. Liver stiffness indicates fibrosis or scarring.
  • Magnetic resonance elastography, works by combining MRI imaging with sound waves to create a visual map (elastogram) showing the stiffness of body tissues.

Liver tissue examination

  • If other tests are inconclusive, your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of tissue from your liver (liver biopsy). The tissue sample is examined in a laboratory to look for signs of inflammation and scarring.
  • A liver biopsy can be uncomfortable, and it does have small risks that your doctor will review with you in detail. This procedure is performed by a needle insertion through the abdominal wall and into the liver.