86 of 2022 | |
87 of 2022 |
SOP Bulletin 232 [3]
Steatohepatitis means fatty liver with inflammation. This is often alcohol-related and is part of the spectrum of liver disease between mild reversible change (fatty liver without inflammation) and severe disease (cirrhosis).
Diagnosis is normally based on a specialist opinion. Steatohepatitis is definitively diagnosed on liver biopsy, but can also be diagnosed based on imaging changes plus evidence of liver cell destruction with a significant elevated blood level of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, LDH, GGT) in the absence of other causes of liver disease.
The appropriate medical specialist is a gastroenterologist.
* another SOP applies
# non-SOP condition
The condition is often asymptomatic. Vague symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, and right upper abdominal discomfort may be present. The condition most often comes to attention when abnormalities are detected on liver function (blood) tests or abdominal imaging.
The course of the condition is variable. Management of relevant risk factors influences the outcome (e.g. abstinence from alcohol, weight loss, control of diabetes). Progression to fibrosis/development of cirrhosis is an onset of cirrhosis, rather than a worsening of steatohepatitis.
Links
[1] http://www.rma.gov.au/assets/SOP/2022/d1a7b3384d/086.pdf
[2] http://www.rma.gov.au/assets/SOP/2022/85e7e60072/087.pdf
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/system/files/media/SOP%20Bulletin%20232.pdf