CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE FATTY LIVER

Abstract

CONSIDERABLE information has been accumulated on the pathogenesis,¹ anatomical changes,² biochemical alterations,³ and treatment⁴ of fatty liver in man and in laboratory animals. This paper will record our experiences with 102 patients in whom aspiration biopsy of the liver revealed fatty metamorphosis without fibrosis. Attention is directed to etiological factors, clinical and biochemical findings, response to treatment, and sequelae of the fatty liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS There were 77 men, 24 women, and 1 child. Ages ranged from 4 to 77 years. Eighty-six patients had consumed alcoholic beverages excessively; 21 of these were admitted for delirium tremens. In this group, 11 patients were obese, 7 had diabetes mellitus, 4 had peptic ulcer, 2 had chronic pulmonary disease, and 1 had hypertensive heart disease. Sixteen patients did not use alcohol. Four patients in this group had diabetes mellitus, four had malignant neoplasms, and 3 had cholecystitis; obesity, plumbism, inanition, carbon tetrachloride