What is the Difference Between NAFLD and NASH?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition in which excess fat builds up in the liver, and it is not caused by heavy alcohol use. There are two types of NAFLD: nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The main differences between NAFL and NASH are:

1. Inflammation and Liver Damage: NAFL is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver without inflammation or liver damage. In contrast, NASH involves fat accumulation, inflammation, and liver damage.
2. Progression and Complications: NAFL typically does not progress to cause liver damage or complications and is usually reversible. However, NASH can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.
3. Prevalence: About 10% to 20% of Americans have NAFLD, while 2% to 5% have NASH.
4. Symptoms: NAFLD is often a silent disease, causing few or no symptoms. NASH, on the other hand, may present symptoms such as severe tiredness, weakness, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or eyes, spider-like blood vessels on the skin, long-lasting itching, and fluid retention.
5. Treatment: Weight loss is the only recommended treatment for both NAFL and NASH, with a 3-5% body weight loss for NAFL and a 7-10% body weight loss for NASH. No medications have been approved to treat NAFLD or NASH.

Diagnosis of NAFLD, NAFL, and NASH involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests, and liver biopsy.

Comparative Table: NAFLD vs NASH

NAFLD (Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) and NASH (Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis) are two types of liver conditions that involve the accumulation of fat in the liver. Here is a table comparing the differences between NAFLD and NASH:

NAFLD is a condition where an individual has excess fat in their liver that does not result from alcohol use. There are two types of NAFLD: nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFL is essentially a harmless build-up of fat in the liver, also known as steatosis. On the other hand, NASH is a more severe form of NAFLD, where hepatocellular injury and inflammation are present, with or without fibrosis. The prognosis for NAFL is generally more favorable than for NASH, as NASH patients are at risk of progression from fibrosis to cirrhosis and development of liver cancer.