Can anybody tell my why Nicolette Larson had liver failure?

[Haole Girl]

...at 45?

It's been bothering me for some time now...

since I ran across this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5761457&mesg_id=5761457

I don't expect anybody to find the answer. I mean, I know she ultimately died from cerebral edema, but several articles said it was due to liver failure...but I couldn't find out why.

It doesn't really matter, I suppose, but I get curious about things...

Anybody?

[Kutjara]

1. All I could find, after a brief google around,...

...was that she had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As far as I know, this is a condition in which fat deposits progressively damage the liver, until the organ loses its ability to self-repair. After that, it's a one way trip to ultimate liver failure.

The liver has no nerve cells in it, so it doesn't transmit pain signals when it's damaged. That's why many alcoholics don't know they have liver problems until their livers fail and their bodies flood with toxins. I'm sure the same is true of the non-alcoholic version of liver disease.

My guess, therefore, is that Larson had the disease for many years, but only found out about it when her liver failed and she started to feel very unwell. The cerebral edema was a complication arising from the liver failure, as toxins travelled around her body, damaging and destroying other organs.

[Haole Girl]

2. Thank you

Just curious...do you have a link? I wondered if it was hepatitis maybe (?). Or, is that different from "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease"? We really take our bodies for granted, at times, don't we?

[Kutjara]

3. I didn't save the links, but saw the disease mentioned...

...in several of the accounts of her death. One of them had a link to the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease charity website, where there is more info on the condition.

The disease is very different in its causes from hepatitis, but the ultimate effect for both can be liver failure, after which the prognosis is pretty much the same.

[Haole Girl]

4. No problem

I really do appreciate you find that info. That was really bugging me in the early morning hours.

[cwydro]

5. omg

I didn't even know she died. When? I used to be a big fan...I loved that one song...just heard it last week. Someone To Lie Down Beside Me...is that it? Oh, how sad.

[Haole Girl]

6. She died in December of 1997

http://www.nicolettelarson.com/ :cry:

Wildhorses and I didn't know either until last night. :hug:

[cwydro]

7. thanks

geez, I felt like a total dummy until you said y'all didn't know it either. How strange though..and sad.

[wildhorses]

8. thanks for this thread KC2---

still in shock myself:cry::hug:

[Haole Girl]

9. You're welcome

I'm still very upset about it, too. :cry: :hug: