The results of my CAT Scan was the nodules are shrinking. We'll check it in 6 months. However, I had a chance to read the written report when I picked up my first scan and it said I had a fatty liver.
I have been so busy lately but I finally got a chance to look for any link between my fatty liver and the meds I have been taking. There is a clear link to Methotrexate.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00577.html
See Medications ( a highlighted Paragraph)
Now, No one said I actually have NAFLD but I do have a fatty Liver.
How many people on this board have had the opportunity to have a CAT Scan of the upper and lower body lately while being on Methotrexate? Probably not many. Or probably haven't actually read the report.
A scan is one way to find out. Doctors didn't say anything to me because I do not have the disease but hey I got the beginnings of it. I guess they think it is safe. But they didn't ask me.
So, How many of us on Methotrexate have a fatty liver without knowing. I think our blood tests show this. Maybe they just dont want to alarm us ???
I would appreciate anyones thoughts on this. I am kind of pissed off right now.
Hmmm... I find this very interesting. I've been on MTX for quite a while and it seems that a fatty liver is something to watch for. Anyone know how it corrects itself? Also, if left to continue, what are the symptoms, or dangers to watch for?
Thanks for the info :)
Yes, Good question owiedeb, Thats what I'd like to know.A fatty liver (FL) by itself is a benign condition. One can live forever with a fatty liver. A small fraction of the people with FL will progress to an inflammed FL or cirrhosis. Liver functions will rise and your doctor will suggest a liver biopsy to grade the severity. The only way you'd know if you had a benign fatty liver is to have a CT scan done. For most people a fatty liver is benign and is asymptomatic. When it progresses there may be discomfort.
FL is prevalent in middle aged, overweight women. It's the most prevalent liver condition in the U.S. Weight loss and certain drugs will reverse the condition.
I'm not worried about it. I have liver enzymes drawn every 6 weeks. I would have a liver biopsy if the enzymes were significantly elevated and stayed that way once I discontinued MXT. So far my liver enzymes were only slightly elevated and returned to normal. Right now I'm more worried about opportunistic infections, uncontrolled RA, and the complications from the RA. Lindy
My fatty liver began after I had lost weight and was on 6Mp (mercaptopurine) and then got worse on MTX then while I was on Arava I developed NAFLD and cirrhosis. Now it's irreversible, no medication can help, and it's going to progress until it results in death according to the specialist I saw this summer. I asked if anything I could do or eat or take would help and he said it was too late. I should have do it 30 years ago. "It" meaning lose weight, I think, although you often develop fatty liver after yo-yo dieting.
Take this fatty liver seriously - I wasn't worried about it either.
Kathy
Here is a good readable article from Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-di sease
My husband has had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for many years. He's not obese nor a diabetic, although he does have high cholesterol and high trigycerides (sp?) if he doesn't watch his diet very carefully. He's not on any medication for it and it doesn't concern the doctors. The only reason they found it was because some blood work came back sketchy when they were testing him for Paget's disease. He still drinks alcohol, but in moderation and keeps an eye on his liver with yearly blood work.
I had a complete CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis two months ago once it was discovered drinking the barium before the procedure was helpful
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com