Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Academic Term

Summer 8-7-2021

Document Type

Project

Course Number

NURS 6810-OL1

Course Name

Advanced Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse

Professor’s Name

Dr. Sue Butz & Dr. John Chovan

Keywords

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Obesity, Microbiome, Gut Dysbiosis, Metabolic Syndrome

Subject Categories

Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the presence of hepatic steatosis that is not caused by alcohol consumption, viruses, or medications (Sivell, 2019). Fatty liver can become more inflamed and lead to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and possibly progress to cirrhosis and liver failure (Sheka et al., 2020). As rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes rise, healthcare providers can expect to see this disease more prevalently in practice. It can be difficult to provide timely healthcare because there are usually no signs or symptoms present with NAFLD (Mayo Clinic, 2020). This poster discusses the importance of recognizing comorbidities and risk factors that are correlated with NAFLD for early diagnosis and treatment. The pathophysiology is described as a multi-factorial disease process caused by genome-environment interactions, diet, hormonal imbalances, and gut microbiome alternations that lead to the initiation and progression of disease. The role of gut dysbiosis is highlighted in this poster due to the relatively new research demonstrating the role of altered gut flora in intestinal permeability and promotion of inflammatory pathways that correlate with NAFLD (Sivell, 2019). The use of prebiotics and probiotics (synbiotics) has been shown to regulate bacterial dysbiosis and decrease liver injury and inflammation (Inamine & Schnabl, 2018). Advanced practice nurses can greatly improve the health outcomes of NAFLD patients with early testing and diagnosis and by educating patients about the benefits of lifestyle changes, dietary treatments, exercise, and implementation of synbiotics.

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

Included in

Nursing Commons

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