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Liver Diseases

Definition

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
  • 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

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.

Version Info

  • Last reviewed on 5/4/2022
  • 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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