Liver disease is the term used for any disorder of the liver or liver that causes this organ to not function properly.
The liver is an organ that can regenerate quickly to replace damaged cells. However, if enough cells are damaged, the function and work of the liver can be disrupted. Usually, liver function will begin to show a decline when the damage to liver cells reaches 75%. Not only can be experienced by adults, liver disease can also be experienced by children and infants.
The decline in liver function generally occurs gradually. The stages of damage that occur will follow the development of the underlying disease and how much damage to liver tissue is experienced. Liver disease has various types, but some of the symptoms and complaints are often similar to each other.
Liver Damage Stage
Knowing each stage of liver tissue damage is very important in determining treatment measures and preventing further tissue damage. The following is an explanation of each stage:
Stage 1
Liver disease or liver disease at this stage is characterized by inflammation (inflammation) in the liver cells. This condition can cause liver tissue to become soft and swollen. If not treated properly, inflammation can cause permanent damage to liver tissue.
Stage 2
At this stage, the liver begins to undergo fibrosis, which is a condition when scar tissue begins to grow to replace the damaged liver tissue. The formation of scar tissue is actually a process carried out by the body to heal wounds in the liver tissue. However, the formation of this fibrosis actually makes the liver unable to function normally.
Stage 3
This stage is characterized by the occurrence of cirrhosis, which is severe damage to the liver due to the buildup of scar tissue in the liver. Cirrhosis is caused by liver disease that lasts for a long time. Liver cirrhosis is the final stage of liver disease. At this stage, the liver is no longer able to function properly. This condition will be characterized by the appearance of more serious complaints and symptoms.
Stage 4
At this stage, liver damage has occurred completely. This condition causes a complete loss of liver function. This stage is also known as liver failure. This condition can occur acutely or chronically.
Damage to the liver that has reached the final stage cannot be cured. Patients with severe liver damage generally require special treatment and care. One of the recommended treatment options at this stage is to perform a liver transplant.
Causes of Liver Disease
The causes of liver disease are very diverse. The following are some types of liver disease based on the cause:
1. Alcohol-related liver disease
Liver disease can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption. This condition is known as alcohol-related liver disease. Alcohol is toxic to liver cells, especially when the liver filters alcohol from the blood. When filtered by the liver, alcohol can cause the death of liver cells.
2. Fatty liver or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Under normal conditions, liver cells should contain only a small amount of fat. Accumulation of fat in the liver cells can cause liver disorders. Fatty liver often occurs in people who are obese.
3. Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a liver disease that arises due to inflammation of the liver tissue. Hepatitis can occur acutely or chronically. Hepatitis consists of several types, including hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, and autoimmune hepatitis.
4. Toxic hepatitis or toxic hepatitis
This condition is caused by exposure to toxic chemical compounds. The type of poison that can cause toxic hepatitis can come from drugs, dietary supplements, or other chemicals.
Consuming or using certain drugs in excess, especially without following the advice of a doctor, can cause liver disease. Several types of drugs that can cause toxic hepatitis are paracetamol, amoxicillin, isoniazid, diclofenac, fenofibrate, and phenytoin.
5. Cholestatic liver disease or cholestatic liver disease
Liver disease due to cholestasis can be caused by various things, such as disorders of liver cells (hepatocellular cholestasis) or bile duct disorders (cholangiocellular cholestasis). Reason cholangiocellular cholestasis, among others primary biliary cirrhosis, cystic fibrosis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
6. Inherited liver disease (inherited liver disease)
Liver disease is caused by a genetic disorder that causes impaired liver function. The two best known causes of genetic liver disease are hemochromatosis and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
7. Liver cancer
Liver cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the liver. There are several types of liver cancer, namely: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatoblastoma, and cholangiocarcinoma. HCC is the most common type of liver cancer.
Liver disease risk factors
There are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing liver disease, including:
- Experiencing obesity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Exposure to certain poisons or chemicals
- Drug abuse, especially sharing needles
- Exposure to other people's blood and body fluids
- Frequently changing partners in sexual relations
- Undergo a permanent tattoo or piercing procedure
- Suffering from diabetes or elevated triglyceride levels
- Have a family history of liver disease
Symptoms of Liver Disease
Liver or liver is the second largest organ in the human body with the size of approximately the size of a rugby ball and has two parts (lobes) right and left. The liver is located in the upper right abdomen just below the ribs. The liver has several functions in the body, including:
- Produces bile which helps break down fat and remove toxins in the body
- Produce cholesterol and protein which functions to distribute fat throughout the body
- Stores sugar for energy reserves and helps maintain a balance of sugar in the blood
- Digest drugs into active substances in the body, cleanse the blood of medicinal compounds and other toxic substances, and help blood clot
- Produces amino acids that make up important proteins to fight infection and clean the rest of protein metabolism that is toxic to the body
- Stores iron to form hemoglobin, which is an oxygen-carrying component in red blood cells and cleans up waste from hemoglobin metabolism by forming and removing bilirubin.
Symptoms of liver disease can vary from person to person, depending on the type and cause. However, in general there are several symptoms that can appear due to liver disease, namely:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Appetite decreases or even disappears
- Decreased sex drive (libido)
- Excessive fatigue
- Stool color changes to pale or black
- Urine color turns dark
- Yellow skin and eyes or jaundice
- Skin feels itchy and bruises easily
- Stomach hurts and swells
- Swollen legs and feet
If it is caused by infection or inflammation of the liver tissue (hepatitis) there may be complaints or symptoms, such as fever or upper right abdominal pain.
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if you experience the above symptoms. You are also advised to regularly check with your doctor if you have factors or conditions that can increase the risk of liver disease.
If you take certain drugs, always follow the doctor's advice and do regular check-ups to monitor the progress of therapy and whether there are side effects due to drug use.
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience very severe abdominal pain, especially if it is accompanied by the appearance of jaundice and fever.
If you have been diagnosed with liver disease, follow the therapy given by your doctor. Some liver diseases may require intensive treatment.
Liver Disease Diagnosis
To diagnose liver disease, the doctor will ask about the symptoms you are experiencing, as well as your medical history and risk factors, such as a history of taking previous drugs or the amount of alcohol consumed per day.
After that, the doctor will perform a thorough physical examination, including to see changes in skin and eye color, swelling of the abdomen and legs, and the presence or absence of tenderness in the patient's abdomen.
To make a diagnosis, doctors need to find the cause of liver disease as well as the severity of the condition. Some of the investigations that can be done to confirm the diagnosis are:
blood test
Blood tests are useful to determine inflammatory conditions that occur in the liver and liver function. Some types of blood tests that can be done are:
- Liver function examination, by looking at the levels of protein, albumin, and bilirubin in the blood, levels of the enzymes SGOT, SGPT, and enzymes GGT and alkaline phosphatase
- Complete blood cell count, to detect a decrease in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
- INR examination, to see the function of blood clotting
- Examination of lipase enzyme levels, to detect inflammation in the pancreas
- Examination of ammonia levels, to determine whether impaired consciousness occurs due to accumulation of ammonia which generally occurs in liver failure
- Serological tests, to check and detect whether liver disease is caused by a viral infection, such as A, B, C, or D
Other checks
In addition to blood tests, doctors may ask patients to undergo procedures:
- Scanning with ultrasound, CT Scan, or MRI, to get a clear picture of the liver and surrounding organs
- Liver biopsy with fine needle method, to detect the presence or absence of tissue abnormalities
- Genetic tests, to diagnose genetic disorders that may be the cause of liver disease
Liver Disease Treatment
Treatment of liver disease depends on the cause, severity, and condition of the patient. Liver disease that is detected at an early stage and treated early has a greater potential for recovery than if it is detected and treated at a more serious stage.
In general, several methods of treating liver disease are:
- Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, stopping drinking alcohol, and avoiding indiscriminate drug consumption
- Drink lots of water, get enough rest, and eat a healthy diet, especially to treat hepatitis A
- Administration of diuretic drugs and low-salt diet to treat cirrhosis
- Perform gallbladder removal surgery to treat gallstones
- Perform a liver transplant to treat conditions that have reached the stage of liver failure
Liver Disease Complications
Complications that can occur due to liver disease vary, depending on the cause of each condition. Some diseases and conditions that can occur when a person has liver disease are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Malnutrition (lack of nutrition)
- Weight loss
- Decreased cognitive function
- Heart cancer
Liver Disease Prevention
To prevent liver disease, the actions that must be taken are:
- Maintain normal weight according to body mass index.
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages in excess.
- Follow the hepatitis virus vaccination program to prevent hepatitis.
- Do not change partners in sexual intercourse.
- Don't use NAPZA.
- Consult a doctor before taking any medication.
- Do regular checkups to the doctor to monitor liver health.
- Avoid exposure to hazardous chemicals, blood, and other people's body fluids, by using PPE (personal protective equipment) according to standard operating procedures (SOPs).