Liver Disease Specialist

What is liver disease?

Your liver is about the size of a football and sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. It’s essential for digesting food and removing toxic substances from your body.

Several factors can cause your liver to become diseased, and over time, the damage results in scarring called cirrhosis, which leads to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

What causes liver disease?

Several factors contribute to liver disease, including:

Infection

Parasites and viruses can infect your liver and cause inflammation that reduces liver function. The viruses that cause liver damage spread through blood, semen, contaminated food or water, or close contact with an infected person. Hepatitis viruses are the most common types of liver infection.

Immune system abnormality

Autoimmune diseases, in which the body begins to attack its cells, can affect your liver and lead to liver disease. Examples of such diseases include primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Genetics

An abnormal gene inherited from your parents often leads to a build-up of various substances in your liver, damaging it. Genetic liver diseases include:

• Hemochromatosis
• Hyperoxaluria and oxalosis
• Wilson's disease
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Liver cancer is another form of liver disease.

Fatty Liver

Your liver filters harmful substances out of everything you eat and drink, so they don’t enter your bloodstream. This process gets interrupted if fat accounts for more than 5-10% of your liver’s weight. While lifestyle modifications help, fatty liver is currently the leading cause of liver transplantation.

What are the symptoms of liver disease?

Symptoms of liver disease vary, and often include:

• Abdominal and leg swelling
• Bruising easily
• Stool and urine color changes
• Jaundice

How is liver disease diagnosed?

To diagnose your liver disease, Dr. Reddy reviews your history and performs a thorough physical examination that often includes diagnostic tests such as:

• Blood tests, which show specific liver problems or genetic conditions
• Imaging tests such as ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs show liver damage
• A test of tissue samples from your liver for signs of liver damage

How is liver disease treated?

The treatment Dr. Reddy recommends for liver disease depends on your diagnosis. Most often, the regimen incorporates lifestyle changes, including avoiding alcohol and losing weight. If treatment fails, leading to liver failure, a liver transplant is often required.

To have your liver function tested and to check to see if you have liver disease, call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Sreelatha Reddy at Houston Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic in Houston.

Dr. Reddy is a specialized gastroenterologist that sees patients for endoscopy, cancer screening and more located in Sugar Land, Texas and Houston, Texas. Call us to book your appointment today.