The liver is involved with many functions in the body, including the control of infections, the removal of toxins and bacteria from the bloodstream, the making of proteins that assist in the clotting of blood, the production of bile, and helping with processing hormones, drugs and nutrients. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is normally the size of a small football. The liver's lower edge is normally aligned with the bottom of the rib cage on the right side of the body. If the liver becomes enlarged, a health care provider can feel it in this area.
Alcohol
The excessive drinking of alcohol can lead to an alcohol-induced liver disease. According to The Methodist Hospital System, there are three types of alcohol-induced liver disease. These types are alcoholic cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis and fatty liver. Each of these types of liver disease can cause an enlarged liver.
Iron
Excessive iron can build up in the body from a condition called hemochromatosis, which causes additional iron from food to be absorbed. The body stores the iron in the liver, among other organs. The excess iron can cause a liver to enlarge.
Liver Cancer
Cancer in the liver can cause an enlarged liver. Liver cancer typically is metastatic cancer, which means that tumors from elsewhere in the body spread the cancer to the liver.
Heart Failure
When the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the needs of the body, an enlarged liver can result.
Infections
The viral infections of hepatitis A, B and C can all cause the liver to become enlarged. Other types of infection, such as mononucleosis, can also result in an enlarged liver.
Other Causes
According to the National Library of Medicine, other causes of an enlarged liver include leukemia, Reye Syndrome, Niemann-Pick disease, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, glycogen storage disease and fat in the liver, which can occur as a result of obesity or having high triglycerides.
