I am an alcoholic and have been sober 6 years. While drinking I was told I had fatty liver after an ultrasound to evaluate why my liver enzymes were so elevated. My enzymes are still slightly elevated so i was sent for another ultrasound and the fatty liver remains though I m not overweight. I have been referred to a specialist and guess they may do a biopsy to determine if this is simple fatty liver or intrinsic liver disease . Since the liver still appears fatty after all this time, is it evidence of cirrhosis? I have no symptoms, but am nervous. I m a 58 year old woman.
Hi there, Thanks for using Chat Doctor. Fatty liver and cirrhosis are two different things. Fatty liver is at one end of the spectrum and cirrhosis on the other end. Alcohol intake for long period of time can cause both these conditions. It would start with fatty liver and would lead to hepatitis and eventually to cirrhosis. A fibrosis or a liver biopsy may be done to see whether you have developed cirrhosis. Is this answer helpful?