Liver disease is a serious medical condition that damages the liver. It is also known as cirrhosis. The cirrhosis process blocks the blood flow to the liver, causing the substances that are normally cleaned by the liver to escape into the general circulation. This disease also affects the liver’s worker cells, which are responsible for cleansing waste products from the blood. When these cells are damaged, they no longer make substances needed for the liver.
Treatment
Liver disease is a complex condition with many causes, and a variety of treatment options. Some cases can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes, while others require surgery or a complete liver transplant. A liver disease specialist can help you find the best treatment option for your individual situation. Liver disease is not preventable, but it can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle and limiting alcohol consumption. You should also follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to taking medications and getting the proper vaccinations.
The treatment for liver disease depends on what kind of disease you have and how much damage you have already sustained. Some of the most common types of liver disease are Wilson disease, cholestatic liver disease, and liver cancer. For patients with cholestatic liver disease, medications can help slow damage or surgery may be necessary. Liver cancer treatment involves chemotherapy or liver transplant.
Liver cancer is a serious form of liver cancer and can cause severe complications. UT Southwestern’s Liver Cancer Program is home to some of the nation’s most prominent experts in the field. There is also a comprehensive program for primary biliary cholangitis, a disease in which the bile ducts are destroyed.
Liver disease treatment options at UT Southwestern Medical Center can help patients avoid cirrhosis, which is a progressive liver disease where healthy cells are replaced by scar tissue. Advanced cirrhosis can lead to elevated pressure in the portal vein and eventually require liver transplantation. Although cirrhosis is a serious condition, it can be treated effectively. At UT Southwestern, patients can expect effective therapies and advanced procedures to restore their quality of life.
Symptoms
Symptoms of liver disease can be hard to detect, since they often overlap with symptoms of other conditions. However, if left untreated, the disease can lead to acute liver failure, which can be life-threatening. The symptoms of liver disease may be persistent or change with time. If they occur regularly, it’s wise to see a doctor.
Liver disease can be diagnosed by examining the patient’s symptoms and performing a physical exam. Your doctor may also order certain tests, including a liver biopsy and liver function tests. He or she may also perform an ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to look for abnormalities. Other symptoms of liver disease may include ascites, a fluid-filled sac in the abdomen.
One of the most common symptoms of liver disease is yellowing of the skin. This is also known as jaundice. In addition to being on the skin, jaundice may also appear in the tongue and fingernails. A build-up of bilirubin, a pigment produced by the liver, in the blood causes this discoloration. If it persists, it may be a sign of a more serious liver condition, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Liver disease usually develops slowly and has no clear symptoms in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms can become more pronounced and may include nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Some people may experience pain in their legs or arms. Liver disease may also cause jaundice and damage to the liver tissue.
Diagnosis
There are several ways to diagnose liver disease, but the primary method is a liver function test. This test looks for bilirubin and liver enzymes in your blood. High bilirubin levels may indicate cholestasis, liver failure, or parenchymal disease. Alkaline phosphatase levels are also indicators of a diseased liver, and they may also indicate an underlying systemic illness.
Another method involves measuring platelet counts, which has a high sensitivity and specificity of 87 percent. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases approved practice guidance for this method on February 21, 2019. These results can help physicians determine whether a patient is suffering from liver disease or not. A patient can remain in primary care for follow-up care or be referred to a specialist for further testing.
CBC tests can also reveal inflammation or an infection. The other test used in liver disease is known as the prothrombin time (prothrombin), which measures the amount of time it takes for blood to clot. If the time is prolonged, it may indicate a liver disease or a deficiency of specific clotting factors.
Special blood tests are also used to diagnose liver disease. These tests can differentiate between acute and chronic forms, such as hepatitis and cholestasis. They also measure the presence of bilirubin, a substance produced by the liver and excreted in the bile. When bilirubin levels are elevated, it indicates a liver problem or obstruction to bile flow.
Treatment options
There are many treatment options for liver disease, but choosing the right one depends on several factors. Ideally, you and your doctor will work together to find the right treatment for you. Treatment plans are typically divided into two types: disease-directed and non-disease-directed. Disease-directed treatments are those that aim to eliminate the cancer, while non-disease-directed treatments focus on reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.
While some types of liver disease can be treated with lifestyle changes and medications, others require surgical intervention. Liver transplants are one option for patients with advanced liver disease. This procedure can be risky, and it requires a donor organ. However, it is possible to reverse liver damage if you start treatment early enough.
Treatment for liver disease depends on your symptoms and risk factors. The first step in determining whether you have liver disease is to undergo a thorough evaluation. A physician will review your personal history and perform a physical exam. He may also order blood tests, ultrasounds, or other imaging tests to examine your liver. If these tests indicate that you have liver disease, your doctor may perform a liver biopsy, which is a minimally invasive procedure that removes a small piece of liver tissue. In severe cases, you may also need surgery to remove excess scar tissue and reduce chronic inflammation.
While there are several treatment options for liver disease, they are generally expensive. Your physician will discuss all of your options with you. At the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, our Liver Disease Program features physicians with international reputations in the field.
Symptoms of cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a debilitating liver disease with a wide range of symptoms. In early stages, the condition may be difficult to detect, because the symptoms mimic other health conditions. However, doctors will use physical examination, blood tests, and imaging to help make the diagnosis. A physician will ask about your medical history, perform a physical exam, and observe your liver for any signs of disease. They will also check for a buildup of fluid in your abdomen or legs, which is a symptom of cirrhosis.
Treatment for cirrhosis varies depending on its severity and the cause. Your doctor may recommend medicines to control the underlying conditions or manage the symptoms. For example, you might be prescribed a high-fiber, low-fat diet to control blood flow, or antivirals if you are taking certain medications for hepatitis. Also, you may be given vaccinations to help protect your liver from infections. Your doctor may also recommend weight-loss programs if they are medically necessary, and a low-sodium diet if you have ascites.
If your cirrhosis is decompensated, you may need hospitalization and close monitoring of fluid balance. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of bacterial infections, or medications to control the high levels of toxin in the blood. If your condition isn’t managed properly, you may need a liver transplant. Unfortunately, this procedure is not always possible, and it requires a long wait for a suitable donor.
Treatment for liver cancer
There are several options for treatment of liver cancer, but not all of them have the same success rate. Depending on its stage, treatment for liver cancer will be different. If it is still in the early stages, treatment will consist of surgery to remove the tumor and some healthy liver tissue. This type of treatment is considered disease-directed and can be effective in patients with a small number of tumors and good liver function. However, surgery may not be an option for patients with large tumors or those who are too ill to undergo it.
Chemotherapy is another treatment option for liver cancer. This type of therapy delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to the tumour in the liver. The response rate varies widely in clinical studies, but it’s believed to be anywhere from 16% to 61%. Chemoembolisation is more effective than standard chemotherapy because the drugs are mixed with an oily substance that enables them to stay in the liver for longer.
Liver transplantation is another option for some patients. This type of treatment is usually reserved for patients with liver tumors that are less than 5cm across or for patients with multiple smaller tumors. However, the risk of a recurrence of the disease after a liver transplant increases with the size of the tumour.
