Wilson Disease

Wilson disease is an inherited condition that causes the body to retain excess copper. The liver of a person who has Wilson’s disease does not release copper into bile as it should. As the copper builds up in the liver, it begins to damage the organ.

After enough damage, the liver releases the copper directly into the bloodstream, which carries the copper throughout the body. The copper buildup leads to damage in the kidneys, brain, and eyes. If not treated, Wilson’s disease can cause severe brain damage, liver failure, and death.

What are the symptoms of Wilson disease?

Wilson… Continue reading

Cirrhosis Causes

Several processes can lead to cirrhosis.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism particularly endangers the liver. Alcoholic cirrhosis (also sometimes referred to as portal, Laennec’s, nutritional, or micronodular cirrhosis) is the primary cause of cirrhosis in the U.S. It is estimated to be responsible for 44% of deaths from cirrhosis in North America. Some experts believe this estimate is low. One Canadian study found alcohol to be the major contributor to 80% of all cirrhosis deaths.

The relationship between alcohol and cirrhosis is generally as follows:

Alcohol is absorbed from the small intestine, and the blood carries it directly into the liver… Continue reading

Reye’s syndrome treatments

Reye’s syndrome is usually treated in the hospital. Severe cases may be treated in the intensive care unit. The hospital staff will closely monitor your child’s blood pressure and other vital signs. Specific treatment may include:

Intravenous fluids. Your child may be fed through an intravenous (IV) line. Glucose and an electrolyte solution containing sodium, potassium and chloride may be given through the IV, too.
Insulin. Small amounts of insulin may be used to increase sugar metabolism.
Corticosteroids. These medications may be used to reduce swelling in the brain.
Diuretics. These medications may be used… Continue reading

Cirrhosis Introduction

Cirrhosis is an irreversible result of various disorders that damage liver cells over time. Eventually, damage becomes so extensive that the normal structure of the liver is distorted and its function is impaired.

Vital Functions

The liver performs over 500 vital functions. Damage to the liver can impair these and many other processes. Among them are the following:

Processing Healthful Nutrients. It processes all of the nutrients the body requires, including proteins, glucose, vitamins, and fats.

Bile Production. The liver produces bile, a green-colored fluid that is formed in the liver and helps the body absorb… Continue reading

Progression of Liver Disease

There are many different types of liver disease. But no matter what type you have, the damage to your liver is likely to progress in a similar way.
Whether your liver is infected with a virus, injured by chemicals, or under attack from your own immune system, the basic danger is the same – that your liver will become so damaged that it can no longer work to keep you alive. Anything that keeps your liver from doing its job may put your life in danger.

The Healthy Liver

Your liver helps fight infections and cleans your blood. It also… Continue reading

Extrahepatic biliary atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare disease characterized by a biliary obstruction of unknown origin that presents in the neonatal period. It is the most important surgical cause of cholestatic jaundice in this age-group. The common histopathological picture is one of inflammatory damage to the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts with sclerosis and narrowing or even obliteration of the biliary tree. Untreated, this condition leads to cirrhosis and death within the first years of life. Surgical treatment usually involves an initial attempt to restore bile flow: the Kasai portoenterostomy which is performed as soon after diagnosis as possible. Later, liver… Continue reading

Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation may be indicated for the following:

Patients who have developed life-threatening cirrhosis and who have a life expectancy of more than 12 years.
Patients with liver cancer that has not spread beyond the liver.

Survival rates after transplantation are similar among those who have hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or alcoholic liver disease. Current 5-year survival rates after liver transplantation are between 60 – 80%. Patients also report improved quality of life and mental functioning after liver transplantation. Patients should seek medical centers that perform more than 50 transplants per year and produce better-than-average results… Continue reading

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer refers to the growth of malignant tumors in liver tissue. Cancer that starts in the liver is called primary liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cancer that spreads to the liver from another organ is called metastatic liver cancer.

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What are the symptoms of liver cancer?

Often there are no symptoms of liver cancer until the later stages. This is why early detection is difficult. When symptoms do occur, they may include fatigue, pain on the right side of the upper abdomen or around the right shoulder blade, nausea, loss of appetite, feeling full after a… Continue reading

Hepatocytes – The liver cells

Hepatocytes make up 70-80% of the cytoplasmic mass of the liver. These cells are involved in protein synthesis, protein storage and transformation of carbohydrates, synthesis of cholesterol, bile salts and phospholipids, and detoxification, modification and excretion of exogenous and endogenous substances. The hepatocyte also initiates the formation and secretion of bile.

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Hepatocyte histology

Hepatocytes display an eosinophilic cytoplasm, reflecting numerous mitochondria, and basophilic stippling due to large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes. Brown lipofuscin granules are also observed (with increasing age) together with irregular unstained areas of cytoplasm; these correspond to cytoplasmic glycogen and lipid… Continue reading

Galactosemia

Galactosemia is an inherited disorder that prevents a person from processing the sugar galactose, which is found in many foods. Galactose also exists as part of another sugar, lactose, found in all dairy products.

Normally when a person consumes a product that contains lactose, the body breaks the lactose down into galactose and glucose. Galactosemia means too much galactose builds up in the blood. This accumulation of galactose can cause serious complications such as an enlarged liver, kidney failure, cataracts in the eyes or brain damage. If untreated, as many as 75% of infants with galactosemia will die… Continue reading