Liver disease
Liver disease
Liver disease (pronunciation: /ˈlɪvər diːˈziːz/) refers to any disturbance of liver function that causes illness. The liver is responsible for many critical functions within the body and should it become diseased or injured, the loss of those functions can cause significant damage to the body.
Etymology
The term "liver disease" is derived from the Old English word "lifer", which means "life-giving" and the Latin word "dis-ease", which means "lack of ease".
Types of Liver Disease
There are over 100 different forms of liver disease that affect men, women and children. The most common types include:
- Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by viruses like hepatitis A, B, and C.
- Cirrhosis: Long-term damage to the liver from any cause can lead to permanent scarring, called cirrhosis.
- Alcoholic liver disease: Damage to the liver and its function due to alcohol abuse.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat within liver cells.
- Liver cancer: Primary liver cancer is cancer that starts in the liver.
Symptoms
Symptoms of liver disease can vary, but they often include swelling of the abdomen and legs, bruising easily, changes in the color of stool and urine, and jaundice, or yellowing of skin and eyes.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of liver disease may be based on symptoms, physical findings, laboratory tests, imaging studies, and the pattern of liver disease.
Treatment
Treatment for liver disease depends on the specific type of liver disease. Some liver diseases can be treated with lifestyle modifications, such as stopping alcohol use or losing weight, while others may require medication or surgery.
Related Terms
- Hepatology: The branch of medicine that incorporates the study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas as well as management of their disorders.
- Hepatologist: A specialist in the branch of medicine called Hepatology.
- Liver function tests: Blood tests used to help diagnose and monitor liver disease or damage.
- Liver transplant: A surgical procedure performed to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from another person.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Liver disease
- Wikipedia's article - Liver disease
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