Fatty Liver Disease (Liver Steatosis)

Abstract

Accumulation of lipid within cells is a pathologic process. Any type of lipid can accumulate within cells, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids. Fatty liver disease (steatosis) is characterized by accumulation of triglycerides within hepatocytes.

Normally, free fatty acids are taken up by the hepatocytes and then converted into cholesterol esters, triglycerides, keton bodies, or phospholipids. Some of the lipids combine with apoproteins to form a specific type of lipoprotein called very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), which is then secreted into the blood. Liver steatosis can result from either excess delivery of free fatty acids into the liver (e.g., diabetes mellitus), increased formation of lipids within the liver (e.g., alcohol ingestion), hepatocytes disease (e.g., hepatitis), or decreased formation of VLDL by the liver (e.g., protein malnutrition).