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.

References

Martin P. Approach to the patient with liver disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 137.

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.

Fatty liver - CT scan - illustration
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).
Fatty liver - CT scan
illustration
Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan - illustration
A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing disproportional steatosis (fattening) of the liver.
Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan
illustration
Cirrhosis of the liver - illustration
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.
Cirrhosis of the liver
illustration
Liver - illustration
The liver serves a wide variety of body functions, including detoxifying blood and producing bile that aids in digestion.
Liver
illustration

Fatty liver - CT scan - illustration
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).
Fatty liver - CT scan
illustration
Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan - illustration
A CT scan of the upper abdomen showing disproportional steatosis (fattening) of the liver.
Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan
illustration
Cirrhosis of the liver - illustration
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.
Cirrhosis of the liver
illustration
Liver - illustration
The liver serves a wide variety of body functions, including detoxifying blood and producing bile that aids in digestion.
Liver
illustration

A Closer Look

Cirrhosis

Talking to your MD

Self Care

Tests for Liver disease

Review Date: 5/4/2022

Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Health Library

Liver disease

Jaundice

Liver function tests

Amebic liver abscess

Autoimmune hepatitis

Biliary atresia

Cirrhosis

Coccidioidomycosis

Delta virus (hepatitis D)

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

References

Fatty liver - CT scan - illustration

Fatty liver - CT scan

Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan - illustration

Liver with disproportional fattening - CT scan

Cirrhosis of the liver - illustration

Cirrhosis of the liver

Liver - illustration

Liver