Liver Diseases
- Ground glass hepatocytes
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Budd–Chiari syndrome
- Micrograph of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Fascioliasis, a parasitic infection caused by liver fluke
- Hepatitis, inflammation of the liver caused by viruses or toxins
- Alcoholic liver disease, a manifestation of alcohol overconsumption
- Fatty liver disease, reversible condition with fat accumulation in liver cells
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Hereditary diseases causing liver damage, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease
- Transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis, where mutated protein affects liver
- Gilbert's syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting bilirubin metabolism
- Cirrhosis, fibrosis formation in place of liver cells, causing chronic liver failure
- Primary liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma
- Primary biliary cirrhosis, a serious autoimmune disease of bile capillaries
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the bile duct
- Budd–Chiari syndrome, clinical picture caused by hepatic vein occlusion
Signs and Symptoms
- Jaundice
- Confusion and altered consciousness (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy
- Risk of bleeding, especially in the gastrointestinal tract
Mechanisms
- Liver diseases develop through several mechanisms
- DNA damage is a shared mechanism in major liver diseases
- Viral infection increases reactive oxygen species and causes inflammation
- Alcohol consumption leads to DNA damage and oxidative stress
- Obesity increases pro-inflammatory cytokines and deoxycholic acid, causing DNA damage and inflammation in the liver
Other Relevant Aspects
- Several liver diseases are due to viral infections like Hepatitis B and C
- Vertical transmission of viral hepatitides can occur during birth
- High alcohol consumption can lead to alcoholic liver diseases and liver cancer
- Fat accumulation in liver cells and inflammation contribute to alcoholic liver disease
- Cirrhosis can develop in advanced stages of alcoholic liver disease
Air Pollutants
- Particulate matter and carbon black are common pollutants
- They have a direct toxic effect on the liver and cause inflammation
- Impact on lipid metabolism and fatty liver disease
- Translocation from lungs to the liver through extrapulmonary circulation
- Water-soluble fractions of particulate matter play a significant role in translocation
Liver disease, or hepatic disease, is any of many diseases of the liver. If long-lasting it is termed chronic liver disease. Although the diseases differ in detail, liver diseases often have features in common.
Liver disease | |
---|---|
Other names | Hepatic disease |
![]() | |
A gross pathology specimen of liver metastases caused by pancreatic cancer | |
Specialty | Hepatology, gastroenterology |
Types | Fatty liver disease, Hepatitis (and several more) |
Diagnostic method | Liver function tests |
Treatment | Depends on type(See types) |