Fatty liver, or steatosis, is an abnormal accumulation of certain fats, or triglycerides inside liver cells. Triglycerides, a type of fat, can develop as a result of several factors. According to the Merck Manual Home Edition, a fatty liver not caused by alcohol is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Overuse of certain medications can cause the accumulation of fat in the liver.
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen blocks some of estrogen's effects, which aids in treating certain types of breast cancers. Drugs.com points out that tamoxifen can also prevent some forms of breast cancer. While tamoxifen can prevent estrogen-dependent breast tumors from growing, it does increase a woman's risk for other diseases, such as a stroke, uterine cancer and blood clots in the lungs. Women may take tamoxifen for up to five years. . According to a 2006 article in the "Journal of Lipid Research," 43 percent of breast cancer patients on tamoxifen develop a fatty within two years. Tamoxifen affects the chemical processes in the liver, resulting in the fat accumulation.
Tetracycline
Tetracycline works by preventing the bacteria from making proteins. Large amounts of tetracycline can cause a fatty liver. According to eMedTV, tetracycline treats such conditions as cholera, gonorrhea, plague, Lyme disease, chlamydia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Tetracycline also treats some types of pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone, cortisone and prednisone, resemble a naturally occurring hormone, cortisol. Use of corticosteroids can cause triglycerides to build up in the liver. Cleveland Clinic explains that corticosteroids decrease inflammation in the body and affect the function of white blood cells. Corticosteroids treat myositis, an inflammation of the muscle, and systemic vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels.
Aspirin
A salicylate, aspirin helps relieve pain, inflammation and fever. People can also take aspirin for certain heart problems, such as heart attacks. Drugs.com warns that aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome in children. When children develop Reye's syndrome, it can cause a fatty liver, according to Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
References
- Merck Manual Home Edition: Fatty Liver
- Drugs.com: Tamoxifen Information
- "Journal of Lipid Research"; Causes and Prevention of Tamoxifen-Induced Accumulation of Triacylglycerol in Rat Liver; Oddrun Anita Gudbrandsen, Therese Halvorsen Rost and Rolf Kristian Berge; July 2006
- eMedTV: Tetracycline
- Cleveland Clinic: Corticosteroids
