Liver Disorders

The liver is an organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body, including:

• glycogen storage
• plasma protein synthesis
• detoxification.
• regulates the blood's ability to clot--governs the transport of fat stores
• stores extra vitamins, minerals, and sugars to prevent shortages
• produces quick energy as needed
• controls the production and excretion of cholesterol
• breaks down alcohol
• monitors and maintains the right level of numerous chemicals and drugs in the blood
• maintains and controls hormone balance
• helps the body resist infection by producing immune factors and cleansing bacteria from the blood
• stores iron

This organ also is the largest gland in the human body. It lies below the diaphragm in the thoracic region of the abdomen. It produces bile, an alkaline compound which aids in digestion, via the emulsification of lipids. It also performs and regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions requiring specialized tissues.

Viruses, hereditary defects, and reactions to drugs and chemicals are among the known causes of liver breakdown. Though few treatments are effective for life-threatening liver disease, avoiding alcohol and other substances known to cause damage can do a lot to safeguard this important organ. A recently developed vaccine against the hepatitis B virus is now being recommended for children and for adults such as health-care workers who are in danger of exposure.

Many diseases of the liver are accompanied by jaundice caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the system. The bilirubin results from the breakup of the hemoglobin of dead red blood cells; normally, the liver removes bilirubin from the blood and excretes it through bile. The main liver diseases are:

• Hepatitis, inflammation of the liver, caused mainly by various viruses but also by some poisons, autoimmunity or hereditary conditions. Hepatitis A , formerly known as infectious hepatitis, can be contracted by consuming contaminated water or food, most notably shellfish. Hepatitis B , formerly known as serum hepatitis, is found in blood and other body fluids such as urine, tears, semen, breast milk, and vaginal secretions. It is usually transmitted in blood, via transfusions, or through illicit injectable-drug use. But it also can be contracted through a minor cut or abrasion, or during such everyday acts as toothbrushing, kissing, or having sex. Infants can contract the disease from the mother at birth, or from the mother's breast milk. Dental work, ear piercing, and tattooing are other ways people can get hepatitis B. Type C hepatitis virus is the cause of a disease known as "non-A, non-B hepatitis," which is also contracted through contact with contaminated blood, or through household or sexual contact with an infected person.Viral hepatitis may produce no symptoms at all.
• Cirrhosis is the formation of fibrous tissue in the liver, replacing dead liver cells. The death of the liver cells can for example be caused by viral hepatitis, alcoholism or contact with other liver-toxic chemicals. liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar tissue which, as it accumulates, hardens the liver, diminishes blood flow, and causes even more cells to die. The loss of liver function that accompanies this degenerative condition results in gastrointestinal disturbances, jaundice, enlargement of the liver and spleen, emaciation, and accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and other tissues. Over half of the deaths related to cirrhosis are due to alcohol abuse, hepatitis, and other viruses. Chemicals, poisons, too much iron or copper, and blockages of the bile duct also may cause the disease.
• Hemochromatosis, a hereditary disease causing the accumulation of iron in the body, eventually leading to liver damage.
• Cancer of the liver (primary hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic cancers, usually from other parts of the gastrointestinal tract).
• Wilson's disease, a hereditary disease which causes the body to retain copper.
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis, an inflammatory disease of the bile duct, autoimmune in nature.
• Primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune disease of small bile ducts
• Budd-Chiari syndrome, obstruction of the hepatic vein.
• Gilbert's syndrome, a genetic disorder of bilirubin metabolism, found in about 5% of the population.
• Glycogen storage disease type II,The build-up of glycogen causes progressive muscle weakness (myopathy) throughout the body and affects various body tissues, particularly in the heart, skeletal muscles, liver and nervous system.
• Liver abscess, caused by bacteria, such as Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) or staphylococcus (staph), or by Entamoeba histolytica, the parasite that causes amebic dysentery. In either case, the offending organisms destroy liver tissue, leaving a cavity that fills with other infectious organisms, white blood cells, and liquefied liver cells. Common symptoms include shoulder and abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, chills, nausea, vomiting, anemia, and, if there is severe liver damage, jaundice.

There are also many pediatric liver disease, including biliary atresia, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, alagille syndrome, and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, to name but a few.

A number of liver function tests are available to test the proper function of the liver. These test for the presence of enzymes in blood that are normally most abundant in liver tissue, metabolites or products.

Articles from Wikipedia and Dealing with Liver Disease (from The PDR Family Guide to Prescription Drugs)





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