Non-Alcoholic Steato Hepatitis (NASH): A Case Report of Early Onset and Progression to Liver Damage

Abstract

Non-alcoholic steato hepatitis (NASH) is a silent liver disease often resembling cirrhosis of liver but occurring among people who drink little or no alcohol. Its major feature is fat accumulation in liver with inflammation and damage. The presentation may vary from asymptomatic to cirrhosis to development of complications. Present case report explains NASH for a 53-yearold male with overt obesity admitted in Liver intensive care unit (ICU) with typical presentation of deteriorating sensorium, fever and breathlessness. The progression of the disease and the complicated unmanageable state in which the patient presented to the ICU of a super specialised centre for management is noteworthy. He rapidly progressed to fibrosis of liver over few months in spite of his young age. The estimated global prevalence and burden of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and its advanced stage that is development of steatohepatitis has been considerably increasing adding to hepatic morbidity and mortality. It also poses risk for increased cardiovascular complications, warranting a multidisciplinary approach. The knowledge of healthcare workers including nurses is however limited, especially with specialists outside the field of hepatology and gastroenterology. This paper aims to sensitise the nurses about the disease, symptomatology and management of such a case.