Liver disease can result from many different causes, including alcohol abuse, hepatitis C virus infection, diabetes or obesity. The liver performs the vital function of removing toxins from the blood. Damage to the liver can reduce the ability of the liver to function properly, which can cause many different types of symptoms. The severity of the symptoms depends on the severity of the disease. The symptoms of early-stage liver disease are generally mild.
Medical Imaging Tests
The earliest stages of liver disease may not cause any symptoms. The first stage is often fatty liver disease, in which fat builds up inside the liver cells. At first, fatty liver disease is often asymptomatic. However, medical imaging procedures such as ultrasound, computed tomography scanning, also known as a CAT scan, or magnetic resonance imaging, known as MRI, can reveal the early stages of fatty liver disease, before symptoms are present.
Blood Test Abnormalities
Liver function may begin to decline in the early stages of liver disease before any symptoms occur. However, blood tests can detect the chemical irregularities that result from reduced liver function. Two common tests of liver function include tests for alanine aminotransferase, abbreviated ALT, and aspartate aminotransferase, abbreviated as AST. Other typical blood tests for liver function include alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, lactic dehydrogenase, 5'-nucleotidase and bilirubin. Abnormal results from these tests may be indicators of early stage liver disease, explains the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Liver Biopsy
A definitive test of early-stage liver disease is a liver biopsy. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into the liver to remove a small sample of liver tissue. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to look for signs of fat buildup, inflammation and damaged liver cells. If any of these signs are present, they strongly indicate early-stage liver disease, reports the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Symptoms
As liver disease progresses, a person might begin to experience some symptoms. The earliest symptoms are a general feeling of fatigue and weakness. Abdominal swelling and tenderness may develop, often in the upper right area of the abdomen, where the liver resides. Nausea and appetite loss may be followed by unintentional weight loss. Jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin, is often one of the first signs that something is wrong with the liver.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Life Extension: Cirrhosis and Liver Disease
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: What I need to know about Cirrhosis of the Liver
- Medical College of Wisconsin: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology Liver Disease Frequently Asked Questions
- Children's Hosptial of Pittsburgh: Cirrhosis
