Central Carolina Liver Associaton 

The LIVER is located under your ribs, on the right side of your abdomen.  It is about the size of football, and gets larger when it is inflamed, but if more seriously damaged, it can become small and firm. The liver filters the blood; Makes bile; Processes fat; makes important proteins to help the blood clot; metabolizes medications, stores iron, copper, vitamins A&D, and several B vitamins; breaks down and recycles red blood cells; makes albumin to regulates flued transport in the blood and kidneys.  It is the largest organ in your body next to your skin.

Cirrhosis is the medical word for  a lot of scarring in the the liver.  A liver with cirrhosis is firm, yellowish and bumpy, and can feel like rubber. 

If you have some scar tissue, but not a lot, it is called FIBROSIS.  If you catch it early, your liver damage may be reversed: the liver can regenerate!

term for a collection of conditions, diseases, and infections that affect the cells, tissues, structures, or functions of the liver.

It depends on the type and the extent of the disease.  In many cases symptoms include:

Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin

Darkened urine

Nausea

loss of appetite

unusual weight loss or weight gain

vomiting

diarrhea

light-colored stools

abdominal pain in the upper right part of the stomach

feeling as though you always have the flu

generalized itching

varicose veins

fatique

gypoglycemia(low blood sugar)

low grade fever

muscle aches and pains

loss of sex drive

depression

Rare but severe form of liver infection causes liver failure. symptoms include:

an enlarged and tender liver

an enlarged spleen

susceptibility to bleeding

encephalopathy, which is a disorder that affects how the brain functions

changes in mental status or level of consciousness

ascites, which is an accumulation of fluid inside the abdomen

edema or swelling under the skin

aplatic anemia, a condition in which the bone marrow cannot make blood cells.

congenital birth defects, or abnormalities of the liver present at birth

metabolic disorders, or defects in basic body processes

viral or bacterial infections

alcohol or poisoning by toxins

certain medications that are toxic to the liver

nutritional deficiencies

trauma or injury

Galactosemia: an inherited disease in which the body can not tolerate certain sugars in milk.  These sugars can build up and cause serious damage to the liver and other organs in the body.

Algille's Syndrome: A condition in which the bile ducts narrow and deteriorate, especially during the first year of life

Alpha 1-antitypsin deficinecy: a genetic liver disease in children that can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver

Neonatal Hepatitis: which is hepatitis that occurs in a newborn during the first few months of life

Tyrosinemia: a disorder that causes serious problems with liver metabolism

Hemorrphagic telangiectasia: a condition in which thin blood vessels allow frequent and easy bleeding of the skin and digestive tract

Reyes Syndrome:  a condition that causes a buildup of fat in the liver. This condition has been linked in some cases to use of aspirin, especially in conjunction with chickenpox, influenza, or other illnesses with fever.

Wilson's Disease: an inherited condition that causes a buildup of the mineral copper in the liver

Thalassemia: a group of hereditary anemias, or low red blood cell counts

Biliary Atresia: a condition in which the bile ducts extending from the liver to the intestine are too small in diameter or are missing

Chronic Active Hepatitis: an inflammation of the liver that causes severe scarring and interference with liver function

Cancer of the liver: which may result from cancer in other parts of the body that have spread to the liver

Cirrhosis: which is a serious condition that causes tissues and cells in the liver to be replaced by scar tissue.

Type I Glycogen Storage Disease, which causes problems in controlling blood sugars when a person fasts

Porphyria:, a condition that causes a malfunction in how the body uses porphyrins.

Hemochromatosis, a condition which causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. The iron buildup causes damage to the liver and other organs.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis, a condition that causes the bile ducts of the liver to narrow due to inflammation and scarring

Sarcoidosis, a disease that causes a buildup of lesions within the liver and other organs of the body

Ggallstones, which may block the bile duct

Hepatitis, an inflammation and infection of the liver caused by any of several viruses

Cystic disease of the liver, which causes lesions and fluid-filled masses in the liver

Fatty liver Disease: which causes an enlarged liver

Alcholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic cirrhosis.

Yes, but only for Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B at this time.

Treatment for liver disease will include:

• bed rest
• drinking extra fluids to prevent dehydration
• avoiding unnecessary medications
• avoiding alcohol
• eating a well balanced diet for liver disease
• taking antinausea medications as needed

Further treatment will depend on the type and the extent of disease. For example, treating Hepatitis B, C & D may involve the use of medications such as the antiviral medication alpha interferon. Other medications used to treat liver disease may include ribavirin, lamivudine, steroids, and antibiotics.

To treat Wilson's Disease the healthcare professional may prescribe trientine or penicillamine. If these medications cannot be tolerated, the person may be asked to take zinc acetate.

Hemochromatosis is treated by removing a pint of blood once or twice a week for several months to a year, depending on the severity of the condition. This will effectively deplete the excess iron.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are given to prevent complications from primary biliary Cirrhosis. These include Vitamin A, D, E & K, and calcium. Cholestyramine may be given to help relieve itching.

Biliary Atresia may be treated with a procedure called the Kasai surgery, a procedure in which the surgeon replaces the bile ducts with part of the baby's intestine.

Acute fulminant hepatitis can cause life-threatening liver failure. This requires a hospital stay and treatment for the bleeding disorder, encephalopathy, and nutritional problems. Sometimes, the only effective treatment for certain liver diseases is a LIVER TRANSPLANT