Patient's question:
I am 172 cm tall and weigh around 180 pounds. A health check revealed an ALT level of 139, and later an ultrasound indicated moderate fatty liver. Liver function tests showed no hepatitis issues. I would like to know what the potential harms are of having high ALT levels with moderate fatty liver.Doctor's answer:
Many patients with fatty liver disease show no obvious clinical symptoms. They are often discovered during routine health check-ups or follow-up ultrasound examinations for other conditions. Some patients with fatty liver disease may even progress to fatty hepatitis or early cirrhosis without any clinical manifestations. Therefore, the severity of fatty liver does not always correlate with the severity of clinical symptoms. Some moderate to severe fatty liver cases may exhibit symptoms similar to chronic hepatitis, such as loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and dull pain in the liver region or upper right abdomen.For patients with liver damage, including fatty liver, it is advisable to take medications as sparingly as possible. Once the liver is injured, its detoxification capacity is significantly reduced. Since medications are toxic, taking large doses can further strain the liver's detoxification function, causing additional harm.