Media Release

Udupi, Feb 12: Fatty Liver and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) clinic was inaugurated at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal on Wednesday by Dr Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital.

C G Muthana, chief operating officer, Kasturba Hospital, Dr Shiran Shetty, Professor and head and Dr Ganesh Bhat Professor and unit head department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology were present. This Fatty Liver Clinic is the first fatty liver clinic in the coastal part and the clinic will run at Gastroenterology and Hepatology OPD on Saturday 1 and Wednesday 2 of every month.

Liver problems can affect anyone from child to old age. One of the first signs of liver involvement is fatty liver. Fatty liver refers to the deposition of excess fat in the form of lipid droplets in liver cells. Fatty liver is associated with fibrotic changes of the liver and may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer later in certain individuals.

Individuals with diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, alcohol intake and high-fat diet taking unnecessary medicines are at high risk of developing fatty liver. As the fatty liver progresses, there occurs inflammation in liver cells leading to steatohepatitis and as a reactionary healing process may lead to fibrosis of liver or cirrhosis. As per studies, it takes around 10 to 20 years for a person with steatohepatitis to develop cirrhosis, which is a serious condition that may progress to liver failure as well as liver cancer.

A simple fatty liver may not have any symptoms and may go unnoticed. It is most commonly incidentally diagnosed by ultrasound abdomen which detects changes in the liver when fat concentration is > 30%. Special tests like Fibro scan and Fibro Touch scan can detect early stages of fibrosis and it is a preventable disease if detected in the early stages.

This specialized clinic includes diagnostic services for fatty liver and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) like fibro scan/ fibro touch scan and consultation with dietary advice.