ABSTRACT
The finding of fatty liver disease [FLD] has generally been assumed to be a consequence of ethanol ingestion. However, non- alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] was identified as a specific entity. Although FLD is generally nonprogressive or only slowly progressive, cirrhosis and HCC can develop. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence, clinical presentation and aetiology of FLD in Sudanese patients This is a descriptive cross sectional study which included 100 patients with FLD detected by ultrasonography at the national center for gastro-intestinal and liver diseases. Data was collected using a well designed questionnaire and results were analyzed by using SPSS computer system. Out of 1800 patients with liver disease, 100 were found to have FLD. These have no sex difference. Their mean age was 49.8 +/- 15.2 years. The main presenting symptoms were upper abdominal pain [60%] and fatigability in [41%]. while [7%] were asymptomatic. Hepatomegaly was clinically detected in [44%]. Ninety out of these 100 patients had non alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]. In this group [42%] were diabetics and [55%] had hyperlipidemia. A BMI of > 25kg/m2 was detected in 47% of patients. In patients with FLD and a BMI <18kg/m2 underlying diagnoses were made. Six patients had liver biopsy only two of them proved to have NASH. Fatty liver disease is not uncommon in Sudan and most of the patients' diseases are non-alcohol related