Brief Answer:
Probably Fatty Liver. Consult a gastroenterologist

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for writing to HCM. My name is Dr Suresh Raghavaiah. I am a Liver transplant Surgeon and I hope to answer your question today.

By your description your niece appears to be suffering from fatty liver. Fatty liver can be caused by excessive alcohol intake (Alcoholic steato hepatitis, ASH) or due to excessive fatty food intake and sedentary life style (Non-alcoholic steato hepatitis, NASH).

ASH is usually the beginning stages of alcohol induced liver damage and is completely reversible if the patient refrains from alcohol. XXXXXXX is being much more commonly diagnosed currently owing to poor dietary habits and sedentary life styles of people. High caloric intake, high fatty food intake and poor exercise regimens lead to deposition of fat goblets in the liver tissue leading to fatty liver (which shows up as increased echo texture on USG). This is also completely reversible in the initial stages if caloric intake is limited and exercise regimens are adhered to. If left un-checked, patients usually become obese, diabetic and in final stages may lead to cirrhosis of the liver which will necessitate a liver transplant.

In your niece's case, given the fact that she is obese, I am pretty sure she is suffering from fatty liver disease. I would advise her to get an Ultrasound scan of the liver to confirm the same and also a lipid profile.

Once it has been confirmed I think she should meet with a medical gastroenterologist and a dietician to review her reports.

The raise ALT does suggest a mild liver injury, but i am sure it will resolve once the fatty liver resolves completely.

Hope this helped and please do not hesitate to contact me for further details.

Regards.

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