[Fatty liver in childhood]

The abnormal lipid accumulation in the parenchymal cells of the liver is called fatty liver. In the background of this disease is the imbalance of fat accumulation and fat consumption: the overproduction of triglycerides is accumulated in the hepatocytes. Normally 5% of the cells contain triglycerides, but this value can increase to over 50% in fatty liver. It is called fatty infiltration under 50%, and fatty liver over 50%. This alteration does not cause cell function disturbance in mild forms, but it does in severe forms. In many cases it is the first sign of cell necrosis. Fatty liver must be taken seriously as it makes the liver sensitive to other toxic effects. It is not an independent disease, in many cases it is part of some other pathologic process. In the first phase (before the development of fibrosis) it is reversible, when the inducing cause disappears, the liver metabolizes the excessive triglycerides. In the treatment the basic process should be treated. So far no specific drug is known that would be able to decrease the fat accumulated in the hepatocytes.