If you have a history of other autoimmune diseases (thyroid disease, diabetes, other rheumatologic diseases, etc.) This can result in liver injury, manifested by abnormal liver function test, acute hepatitis, or acute liver failure. In some people, the body’s immune system can completely fight off the acute viral infection but in others, the immune system is unable to kill all the virus and then the acute infection transitions into a chronic infection. Hepatitis B is a treatable infection, most commonly using oral medications taken on a daily basis. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV), and yellow fever viruses cause acute hepatitis. NAFLD is further divided into simple steatosis (steatosis is the medical term for fat) and steatohepatitis. It is due to a genetic abnormality affecting a copper transporting protein which leads to over accumulation of copper in the liver. Treatment of NAFLD is primarily geared towards lifestyle management. $("html:not(:animated), body:not(:animated)").animate({ scrollTop: ui.newHeader.offset().top + -60 }, "slow"); Alcoholic hepatitis is usually an acute inflammation of the liver caused by high levels of alcohol intake. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C are nonspecific and can occur in many other medical conditions and circumstances. Supportive therapy for complications of cirrhosis include diuretics, albumin, vitamin K, blood products, antibiotics and nutritional therapy. you may be at higher risk of having autoimmune liver disease. For those who have yet to be vaccinated, the vaccine series can easily be given to adults as well. Currently approximately 2.5 to 4 million people in the U.S. are infected with chronic hepatitis C with almost 20,000 new cases annually. active:true,activate: function( event, ui ) { The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances.Liver disease can be inherited (genetic) or caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses and alcohol use. Both of these conditions are associated with deposition of metals into the liver. These differ according to the type of chronic liver disease. Fatty liver disease is comprised of two primary subtypes - alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. NAFL affects between 10-45% of adults in the United States. In PBC, the immune system attacks the bile ducts within the liver and similarly, if untreated, can eventually lead to cirrhosis. [4], Some studies seems to indicate herbal remedies are useful, without being conclusive. Of the people who develop a chronic infection, approximately 20-30% will develop cirrhosis if they are not treated. Vaccines became available in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s. Over the past year, there have been remarkable and exciting advances in the treatment of hepatitis C. Current treatment regimens have dramatically fewer side effects, shorter treatment courses, and cure rates as high as 95-99% for some people. Patients who have a history of metabolic syndrome or obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are at higher risk of developing both NAFL and NASH. Alcoholic liver disease. } In Wilson's Disease there is an abnormal deposition of copper in the liver, brain and eyes. Most infants nowadays are vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth to prevent any risk of infection throughout their lifetime. Management of blood sugar levels and cholesterol are also important interventions. Given the increasing prevalence of obesity in the U.S., more and more people are at risk of developing NAFL/NASH. It is estimated that approximately 2-5% of adults in the United States may be affected by NASH and that in up to 10-15% of people affected with NASH, that scarring can potentially progress to cirrhosis of the liver. [3], The treatment of chronic liver disease depends on the cause. Chronic alcoholic beverage ingestion and abuse can be a cause of chronic liver disease. Chronic liver disease takes several years to develop and the condition may not be recognised unless there is clinical awareness of subtle signs and investigation of abnormal liver function tests. The liver is an organ about the size of a football that sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. Symptoms of hepatitis B may vary widely. There are several potent anti-viral medications available that can suppress the virus with the goal of bringing virus levels to undetectable levels in the blood. Hepatitis C, a virus that infects the liver, was discovered in 1989. Specific conditions may be treated with medications including corticosteroids, interferon, antivirals, bile acids or other drugs. Signs of chronic liver disease detectable on clinical examination can be divided into those that are associated with the diagnosis of chronic liver disease, associated with decompensation and associated with the cause. Other patients may require surgery or a transplant. ), Transmission at the time of birth (“vertical transmission”). This accumulation of iron within the liver can cause liver injury over time, potentially leading to cirrhosis. },changestart: function(event, ui) { } Symptoms of autoimmune liver disease may include fatigue, jaundice (when your skin of the white part of the eyes turn yellow), joint pains, itching. Hepatitis B is a blood borne viral infection that affects the liver.