liver disease

Liver disease encompasses a range of conditions that affect the liver's ability to function. The liver performs vital metabolic and secretory tasks, including producing bile for digestion, metabolizing nutrients, storing glycogen and vitamins, synthesizing clotting factors, and detoxifying the blood.1

Various agents like viruses, drugs, and genetic disorders can damage the liver, impacting its cells, bile ducts, or blood vessels. While acute liver diseases are often self-limiting, severe damage can lead to chronic conditions like cirrhosis, characterized by scarring and irregular regeneration of liver tissue. Causes of cirrhosis include heavy alcohol intake, viral hepatitis, and genetic disorders. Symptoms can range from jaundice and easy bruising to fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) and confusion (hepatic encephalopathy). Diagnosis involves blood tests and liver biopsies.21