If you are experiencing the symptoms of liver disease, you need to see your doctor to determine the extent of the problem. The first things to be done will be the taking of a medical history and physical examination. If your liver is enlarged or other symptoms of liver disease are present, blood tests will be ordered. Some of these test liver functions, including enzymes and byproducts. A CBC, complete blood count, which looks at the entire number and type of blood cells in the body will probably also be done.
You may need to have x-rays of the abdomen, an upper GI study, or liver scans. Sometimes an abdominal CT or MRI is also necessary. If you are given an ERCP, you probably won’t remember the real name of it and certainly not the spelling--endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. You will probably remember, however, that it involved use of a tube (endoscope) to look at your liver.
The final test for liver diseases is usually a liver biopsy, where a small piece of liver tissue is removed and sent to the lab for examination. This may be done several times, particularly if you have liver cancer.
Liver Disease Treatment
It depends what your symptoms of liver disease are as to what treatments might be appropriate. Treatment may be something like quitting drinking alcohol or it might mean a change in diet or that you have to take a number of medications. Hepatitis involves treatment with antivirals, while other liver diseases require antibiotics, steroids or other prescriptions.
If you have hemochromatosis, or too much iron, the treatment is removal of a pint of blood once or twice a week for up to a year. This gets rid of the excess iron in your blood. Sometimes vitamin and mineral supplements are necessary in treating other liver diseases.
If you have any kind of chronic or advanced liver disease, the only treatment might be a liver transplant. You will be placed on a waiting list for a liver, and have the surgery when one becomes available. This will mean the taking of powerful anti-rejection meds for the rest of your life.
Today the number one cause of acute liver disease, resulting in liver failure, is acetaminophen overdose. The most popular brand name for acetaminophen is Tylenol ™. Approximately 50% of the cases are attempted suicides and the other 50% are accidental overdoses.