Liver Disease: Symptoms & Signs

Medically Reviewed on 10/15/2019

Liver disease is a very broad term that encompasses many different types of damage to the liver. Liver disease can include infectious or non-infectious hepatitis, fatty liver disease, scarring or cirrhosis due to a number of causes, liver failure, and cancers or tumors of the liver. Examples of liver diseases include hepatitis A, B, or C, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, hemochromatosis, hyperoxaluria, oxalosis, Wilson's disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, liver cancer, bile duct cancer, liver adenoma, chronic alcohol abuse, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Signs and symptoms associated with liver disease vary and are dependent upon the exact type of liver disease that is present. Examples of signs and symptoms of liver disease include

Cause of liver disease

Genetics, viral infections, cancer, drug overdoses, immune system problems, and alcohol use can cause liver disease.

Other liver disease symptoms and signs

QUESTION

Long-term heavy alcohol consumption can cause: See Answer

Subscribe to MedicineNet's General Health Newsletter

By clicking Submit, I agree to the MedicineNet's Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet's subscriptions at any time.

References
REFERENCE:

Jameson, J. Larry, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.