Your liver plays a central role in digestion, energy storage, and clearing toxins from the body. Many different problems can affect the liver, including fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, autoimmune disease, medication-related injury, alcohol-related liver disease, and more.
Sometimes the only sign of a liver issue is an abnormal blood test. Other times, people develop symptoms such as fatigue, itching, swelling, or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Because some liver conditions can progress quietly for years, it’s important to take liver test abnormalities and new symptoms seriously and work with a specialist to understand what they mean.
Liver problems can cause a wide range of symptoms. Early on, you may feel generally tired or unwell without clear changes on the outside. As liver disease becomes more advanced, symptoms such as jaundice, swelling, and easy bruising can appear. Some people are found to have liver concerns only because of abnormal blood tests or imaging.
Call our office if:
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if:
We start by reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and risk factors, including alcohol use, medications and supplements, viral hepatitis exposure, metabolic conditions, and family history of liver disease. A physical exam looks for signs such as jaundice, abdominal swelling, or enlarged liver or spleen.
We will review any prior blood tests and often order a more detailed liver panel and other labs. Imaging such as ultrasound, elastography (to assess liver stiffness), CT, or MRI may be used to look at the liver’s structure. In some cases, a liver biopsy is recommended to clarify the diagnosis and stage of disease.
Treatment for liver concerns depends on the underlying cause and how advanced the damage is. For some people, changes such as limiting or avoiding alcohol, managing weight, controlling diabetes, and reviewing medications can greatly improve liver health. Others may need antiviral treatment, immune-modulating medicines, or specific therapies for complications like fluid buildup or varices. Ongoing monitoring helps us track your liver function and adjust your care over time.
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