Liver disease is a term for a collection of conditions, diseases, and infections that affect the cells, tissues, structures, or functions of the liver.
- Liver cirrhosis implies irreversible scarring of the liver which can be a potentially life-threatening. In an advanced stage, 80-90% liver may be damaged and replaced with scar tissue.
- Ascites is the accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity.
- The common types of gallstones are cholesterol Stones and Pigment Stones.
Causes–
General
- Abnormal blood flow to liver( Budd Chiari syndrome, Congestive heart failure)
- Accumulation of Cholesterol/triglycerides(steatosis)
- Alcohol abuse
- Chemicals (anabolic steroids and vinyl chloride )and minerals
- Eating unidentified mushrooms
- Drugs (acetaminophen, statins, niacin, nitrofurantoin, amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, tetracycline, isoniazid, oral contraceptives, methotrexate, disulfiram, vitamin A)
- Infiltration by abnormal cells
- Obstruction of bile flow(cholestasis, Primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis)
- Infections
- Viral (Hepatitis, Toxoplasmosis, Epstein Barr virus, Adenovirus fever, Cytomegalovirus)
- Non-viral (Rocky mountain spotted)
- Fatty liver disease
- Hereditary (Hemochromatosis, Wilson’s Disease)
- Gilbert’s Disease
- Cancers (hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma
- Metastatic cancer (begin in the lung, breast, large intestine, stomach, and pancreas, Leukemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma )
- Diseases(portal hypertension ,hepatic encephalopathy )
Symptoms And Signs–
General
- Abdominal pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- Dark urine
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Generalized itching
- Hypoglycemia
- Jaundice
- Light-colored stools
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of sex drive
- Low grade fever
- Malaise,
- Muscle aches and pains
- Nausea
- Unusual weight loss or weight gain
- Varicose veins
- Vomiting
Investigations—
Blood tests
- Serum transaminase
- AST(Aspertate aminoitransferase)
- ALT (Alanine transferase)
- Biliary enzymes
- GGT(Glutamyl transpeptidase)
- ALP(Alkaline phosphatase)
- Serum protein (albumin, globulin, Alpha-trypsin, ferritin, Alpha fetoprotein)
- Total serum bilirubin
- Full blood count
- Prothrombin time
- Serum Lipase
- BUN
- Creatinine
- Ammonia
CT scan
MRI
Ultrasound
Liver Biopsy
Treatment—–
General
- Bed rest
- Drink extra fluids to prevent dehydration
- Ayurvedic Medicines(Tab Tinifat, Arogyavardhini vati, Kumariasav, Punarnava Mandoor, Kalmeghadi churna)
Complications—-
General
- Decreased Cognitive Function
- Liver Cancer
- Liver Failure
- Malnutrition and Weight Loss
Prevention—-
- Avoid alcohol and smoking
- Avoid drinking or using tap water when travelling abroad.
- Avoid illegal drug use( sharing injection equipment)
- Avoid the sharing of personal hygiene items( razors or nail clippers, towels, soaps)
- Avoid toxic substances
- Eat a balanced diet ,get plenty of physical activity and rest
- Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented with vaccines.
- Practice good hygiene( washing hands after using washroom or changing diapers)
- Practice safest sex
- Use only prescribed medicines, specially vitamins and antibiotics.