Why is it important to differentiate between simple fatty liver and NASH
This is the most important differentiation to be made when a patient seeks medical consultation for fatty liver. Simple fatty liver usually does not progress to advanced liver disease while NASH may progress over several years to more advanced forms of liver disease such as liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Advanced NASH is also a risk factor for liver cancer. Out of all individuals with fatty liver, approximately a fourth have the progressive variant or NASH. Amongst patients with NASH, about 10 percent will eventually progress to liver cirrhosis.