Common Characteristics of Liver
Disease
What are some common liver disease symptoms?
When diagnosing liver disease, the physician looks at the patient's
symptoms and conducts a physical examination. In addition, the physician
may request a liver biopsy, liver enzyme tests, an ultrasound, or a CT
scan (computed tomography scan).
Some common liver disease symptoms include the following, each of which
are described briefly below:
- jaundice
- cholestasis
- liver enlargement
- portal hypertension
- ascites
- liver encephalopathy
- liver failure
What is jaundice?
Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due
to an abnormally high level of bilirubin (bile pigment) in the
bloodstream, which is then excreted through the kidneys. High levels of
bilirubin may be attributed to inflammation or other abnormalities of the
liver cells, or blockage of the bile ducts. Sometimes jaundice is caused
by the breakdown of a large number of red blood cells, which can occur in
newborns. Jaundice is usually the first sign, and sometimes the only sign,
of liver disease.
What is cholestasis?
Cholestasis is reduced or stopped bile flow. "Chole" refers to bile and
"stasis" means "keeping at the same level." Bile flow may be blocked
inside the liver, outside the liver, or in both places. Symptoms may
include the following:
- jaundice
- dark urine
- pale stool
- bone loss
- easy bleeding
- itching
- small, spider-like blood vessels visible in the skin
- enlarged spleen
- fluid in the abdominal cavity
- chills
- pain from the biliary tract or pancreas
- enlarged gallbladder
Some causes of cholestasis include:
- hepatitis
- metabolic liver diseases
- drug effects
- a stone in the bile duct
- bile duct narrowing
- biliary atresia
- inflammation of the pancreas
What is liver enlargement?
Liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) is usually an indicator of liver disease.
There are usually no symptoms associated with a slightly enlarged liver.
Symptoms of a grossly enlarged liver include abdominal discomfort or
"feeling full."
What is portal hypertension?
Portal hypertension is abnormally high blood pressure in the portal vein,
which brings blood from the intestine to the liver. Portal hypertension
may be due to increased blood pressure in the portal blood vessels or
resistance to blood flow through the liver. Portal hypertension can lead
to the growth of new blood vessels (called collaterals) that connect blood
flow from the intestine to the general circulation, bypassing the liver.
When this occurs, substances that are normally removed by the liver pass
into general circulation. Symptoms of portal hypertension may include:
- a distended abdominal cavity (ascites)
- bleeding of the varicose veins at the lower end of the esophagus and
in the stomach lining
What is ascites?
Ascites is fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity caused by fluid leaks
from the vessels on the surface of the liver and intestine. Ascites due to
liver disease usually accompanies other liver disease characteristics such
as portal hypertension. Symptoms of ascites may include a distended
abdomen, which causes discomfort and shortness of breath.
What is liver encephalopathy?
Liver encephalopathy is the deterioration of brain function due to toxic
substances building up in the blood which are normally removed by the
liver. Liver encephalopathy is also called portal-systemic encephalopathy,
hepatic encephalopathy, or hepatic coma.
Symptoms may include:
- changes in logical thinking, personality, and behavior
- mood changes
- impaired judgment
- drowsiness
- confusion
- sluggish speech and movement
- disorientation
- loss of consciousness
- coma
What is liver failure?
Liver failure is severe deterioration of liver function. Liver failure
occurs when a large portion of the liver is damaged due to any type of
liver disorder. Symptoms may include:
- jaundice
- tendency to bruise or bleed easily
- ascites
- impaired brain function (encephalopathy)
- poor weight gain and growth
- fatigue
- weakness
- nausea
- loss of appetite
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