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Manifestations of Liver Disease

Overview of Liver Disease

Ascites

Cholestasis

Fatty Liver

Hepatic Encephalopathy

Jaundice in Adults

Liver Failure

Portal Hypertension

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is inflammation with progressive scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts, both inside and outside the liver. People with which of the following gastrointestinal issues are prone to developing this condition?

Viral gastroenteritis
Gastric ulcer
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, in which stomach acid and contents flow back up the esophagus)
Ulcerative colitis (chronic, inflammatory bowel disease)

Overview of Liver Disease

By

Danielle Tholey

, MD, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Last full review/revision Feb 2021| Content last modified Feb 2021

Click here for the Professional Version

Topic Resources

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Some Features* of Liver Disease

Liver disease can manifest in many different ways. Characteristic manifestations include

Jaundice (a yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Cholestasis (reduction or stoppage of bile flow)
Hepatomegaly (liver enlargement)
Portal hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure in the veins that bring blood from the intestine to the liver)
Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity)
Hepatic encephalopathy (deterioration of brain function due to buildup of toxic substances normally removed by the liver)
Liver failure

Sometimes the manifestations of liver disease are not obvious. For example, symptoms may include fatigue, a general feeling of illness, loss of appetite, and mild weight loss. However, people may not notice these symptoms, and these symptoms are also typical of many other diseases. Thus, liver disease can easily be overlooked, particularly in its early stages.

Some Features* of Liver Disease

Feature	Description
Jaundice	A yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
Cholestasis	Reduction or stoppage of bile flow
Hepatomegaly	Liver enlargement
Ascites	Accumulation of fluid within the abdomen, sometimes causing the abdomen to swell
Hepatic encephalopathy	Confusion caused by deterioration of brain function due to buildup of toxic substances in the blood, which are normally removed by the liver
Gastrointestinal bleeding	Bleeding in the esophagus and/or stomach, often from enlarged, twisted veins (varicose veins, or varices)
Portal hypertension	Abnormally high blood pressure in the veins that bring blood from the intestine to the liver (the portal vein and its branches)
Skin symptoms	Spiderlike blood vessels on the face and chest Red palms Bright red complexion Itching
Blood abnormalities	A decreased number of red blood cells (anemia) A decreased number of white blood cells (leukopenia) A decreased number of platelets (thrombocytopenia) A tendency to bleed (coagulopathy)
Hormonal abnormalities	High levels of insulin but a poor response to it ( insulin resistance), leading to high blood sugar levels Malfunction of the adrenal glands, leading to light-headedness when a person stands up, fatigue, and sometimes patches of dark skin In women, ending of menstrual periods and decreased fertility In men, erectile dysfunction and development of feminine characteristics (feminization), such as loss of muscle tissue, enlarged breasts, and shrunken testes
Heart and blood vessel abnormalities	An increase in heart rate and in the amount of blood pumped Low blood pressure (hypotension)
General symptoms	Fatigue Weakness Weight loss Poor appetite Nausea Fever Abdominal pain
* Features include symptoms and results of the doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present.

View of the Liver and Gallbladder

The portal vein receives blood from the entire intestine and from the spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder and carries that blood to the liver. After entering the liver, the portal vein divides into right and left branches and then into tiny channels that run through the liver. When blood leaves the liver, it flows back into the general circulation through the hepatic vein.

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Effects of Aging on the Liver

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Ascites

Manifestations of Liver Disease

Overview of Liver Disease

Ascites

Cholestasis

Fatty Liver

Hepatic Encephalopathy

Jaundice in Adults

Liver Failure

Portal Hypertension

Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Overview of Hepatitis

Overview of Chronic Hepatitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is inflammation with progressive scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts, both inside and outside the liver. People with which of the following gastrointestinal issues are prone to developing this condition?

Viral gastroenteritis
Gastric ulcer
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, in which stomach acid and contents flow back up the esophagus)
Ulcerative colitis (chronic, inflammatory bowel disease)

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