Liver Disease

Types of Liver Disease

Some of the most common types of liver disease include:

• Infection, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C
• Abnormalities of the immune system, including primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis
• Growths including cancer, such as liver cancer, liver adenoma, and bile duct cancer
• Genetic liver diseases such as hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, and hyperoxaluria and oxalosis
• Chronic and sustained alcohol abuse
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which occurs when fat accumulates in the liver

What Is Liver Failure?

When a large amount of the liver is so severely damaged that the liver no longer works, this is known as liver failure. Liver failure is typically a life-threatening situation requiring emergency care. Acute liver failure can happen very rapidly, within just two days, but most cases of liver failure are caused by slow processes that occur over long periods of time.

Signs of liver failure may include:

• Early symptoms: Exhaustion, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea
• Late symptoms: Bleeding easily, exhaustion, coma, swollen belly, confusion / disorientation

How Is Liver Failure Treated

If the liver failure is caused by a long-term condition, your doctor may try to save the part of the liver that still works. When this is not possible, the only option left is liver transplantation. This is a failure common surgical procedure with a high success rate.