When Brenda Rivera found out she had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, a severe subset of fatty liver disease, she felt panicked and alone, unsure of what the future held. But with help from Dr. Brent Tetri of Saint Louis University Liver Center, one of the nation’s leading research and treatment facilities, she learned to manage the disease. “I was confused and scared, but Dr. Tetri was patient with me,” Rivera says. “He helped me make gradual lifestyle changes, and now I feel like a different person. I have a lot of energy and I’m happy.”
Fatty liver disease occurs when fat accumulates in the liver, making up more than 5 to 10 percent of the organ. It’s a fairly common disease. Between 20 and 30 percent of American adults have fat in the liver, and 3 to 5 percent of adults develop NASH, which can lead to cirrhosis, internal bleeding and liver failure, Tetri says. “We have pretty good ideas about what causes it in terms of genetics, environmental factors and comorbidities such as diabetes and obesity,” he notes.
Although there’s no cure, the disease is manageable with lifestyle changes, particularly healthy eating and weight reduction. “We call it a lifestyle modification because people should do it for the rest of their lives, not just short term,” Tetri says. “We encourage patients to introduce changes gradually and to do things they can sustain.”
NASH is known as a ‘silent’ liver disease, because it often doesn’t present with symptoms. Rivera, for example, experienced no red flags other than a general sense of fatigue. Many NASH patients find their way to SLU Liver Center after routine blood tests show abnormal liver enzyme readings, or after they unexpectedly discover they have cirrhosis.
Staffed by top physicians and researchers, the center is focused on understanding liver disease, discovering new treatments, and improving patient outcomes. “We have a lot of expertise in fatty liver disease, and we’re part of the NASH clinical research network, composed of eight sites around the country,” Tetri says. “This means we are able to offer clinical trials and the latest treatment methods.”
Helping the center achieve its goals is Friends of the SLU Liver Center, which has raised more than $3.2 million since the group’s founding in 2003. It hosts its major annual fundraiser, the Diamonds Gala, Nov. 7 at Westborough Country Club. The theme this year is Mission: Possible. Major sponsors include Saint Louis University Hospital, Aureus Health Services, Dowd Bennett law firm, Mid-America Transplant Services, Arrowhead Research Corporation and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, just to name a few. “The Diamonds Gala is an important source of funding for the liver center,” Tetri says. “The funds are used locally to promote research and our understanding of liver disease.”
With the help of SLU Liver Center, Rivera successfully navigated her way through NASH, learning to manage the disease. “My experience with Dr. Tetri and the SLU Liver Center has been life-changing,” she says. “I feel like a whole new person.”
Pictured: Dr. Brent Tetri and patient
Photo by: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton
[The 13th annual Diamonds Gala, a benefit for Friends of Saint Louis University Liver Center, takes place Nov. 7 at Westborough Country Club. This year’s theme is Mission: Possible, and tickets are $250. KSDK’s Pat McGonigle is the emcee. For more information, call 314.576.3078 or email lduff@friendsoftheslulc.org.]