MASLD and MASH* Symptoms

What are the symptoms of MASLD* and MASH*?

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)* and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)* usually do not cause symptoms. If symptoms do occur, people may feel tired or have pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, where the liver is located.

Often the first sign of liver disease occurs when cirrhosis (severe scarring) has developed typically after many years of having MASLD. If you have MASH and severe scarring of your liver, you may have some of the following signs and symptoms of cirrhosis:

• Intense itching
• A swollen belly (ascites)
• Bruising and bleeding easily
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Spider-like blood vessels just beneath your skin’s surface
• Behavior changes, slurred speech, and confusion (hepatic encephalopathy)
• If someone with NAFLD/NASH develops cirrhosis they are also at some risk of developing a common type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma.

*Steatotic liver disease is the new name for fatty liver disease.

*Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the new name for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

*Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the new name for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Medically reviewed on April 2025.

Last updated on June 12th, 2025 at 01:10 pm