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Liver disease

The term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or abnormal results of liver function tests may suggest you have liver disease.

Related topics include:

  • Alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency
  • Amebic liver abscess
  • Autoimmune hepatitis
  • Biliary atresia
  • Cirrhosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis
  • Delta virus (hepatitis D)
  • Drug-induced cholestasis
  • Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Liver disease due to alcohol
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Pyogenic liver abscess
  • Reye syndrome
  • Sclerosing cholangitis
  • Wilson disease
Review Date: 5/14/2024

Reviewed By

Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Aria - Jefferson Health Torresdale, Jefferson Digestive Diseases Network, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Martin P. Approach to the patient with liver disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 132.

Williams MJ, Gordon-Walker TT. Hepatology. In: Penman ID, Ralston SH, Strachan MWJ, Hobson RP, eds. Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 24.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Images
Fatty liver - CT scan - Illustration Thumbnail

Fatty liver - CT scan

A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing a fatty liver (steatosis of the liver). Note the liver enlargement and dark color compared with the spleen (gray body in lower right).

Illustration

Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan - Illustration Thumbnail

Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan

A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing disproportional steatosis (fattening) of the liver.

Illustration

Cirrhosis of the liver - Illustration Thumbnail

Cirrhosis of the liver

A chronic liver disease which causes damage to liver tissue, scarring of the liver (fibrosis; nodular regeneration), progressive decrease in liver function, excessive fluid in the abdomen (ascites), bleeding disorders (coagulopathy), increased pressure in the blood vessels (portal hypertension), and brain function disorders (hepatic encephalopathy). Excessive alcohol use is the leading cause of cirrhosis.

Illustration

Fatty liver - CT scan - Illustration Thumbnail

Fatty liver - CT scan

A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing a fatty liver (steatosis of the liver). Note the liver enlargement and dark color compared with the spleen (gray body in lower right).

Illustration

Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan - Illustration Thumbnail

Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan

A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing disproportional steatosis (fattening) of the liver.

Illustration

Cirrhosis of the liver - Illustration Thumbnail

Cirrhosis of the liver

A chronic liver disease which causes damage to liver tissue, scarring of the liver (fibrosis; nodular regeneration), progressive decrease in liver function, excessive fluid in the abdomen (ascites), bleeding disorders (coagulopathy), increased pressure in the blood vessels (portal hypertension), and brain function disorders (hepatic encephalopathy). Excessive alcohol use is the leading cause of cirrhosis.

Illustration

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