The liver is responsible for breaking down glucose and making proteins. Unfortunately, an enlarged liver, medically known as hepatomegaly, can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Typically, a physician discovers this upon physical examination when he feels the stomach for any abnormalities. Enlarged liver causes have specific treatments.
Alcoholic Hepatitis
Consuming too much alcohol can lead to an enlarged liver, because this is where alcohol is metabolized. The liver becomes damaged and grows in size when the liver cannot metabolize all of the alcohol. According to the Mayo Clinic, alcohol is associated with liver inflammation (hepatitis).
Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include thirst, a poor appetite, a yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dry mouth, lightheadedness, rapid weight gain and vomiting or nausea.
Risk factors for alcoholic hepatitis include chronic alcohol use or binge drinking. Being female and having genetic alterations increase your risk for developing alcoholic hepatitis.
Managing alcoholic hepatitis involves avoiding alcohol. Also, reducing fat consumption, quitting smoking and taking such drugs as etanercept can help manage alcoholic hepatitis. Other treatment involves taking antioxidants to help prevent any destruction of the liver cells. Sometimes a liver transplant may be necessary.
Reye's Syndrome
Reye's syndrome is another condition that can lead to an enlarged liver as a result of taking too much aspirin or suffering from a fatty acid oxidation disorder. Again, the liver is responsible for metabolizing aspirin and fatty acids. The Mayo Clinic says Reye's syndrome is a condition in which the brain and liver swells. This medical problem often afflicts teenagers and children.
Symptoms of Reye's syndrome include continuous vomiting, fatigue, sleepiness, confusion and irritable. This disease also causes seizures, loss of consciousness, weakness or paralysis.
Treatment for Reye's syndrome involves receiving intravenous (through the vein) glucose or fluids with electrolytes. Diuretics (water pills), anti-seizure medications and vitamin K or platelets are some other treatments for Reye's syndrome.
Heart Failure
In some instances, heart failure can also lead to an enlarged liver. Heart failure is a problem in which the heart no longer pumps blood efficiently.
MedlinePlus says its symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, a poor appetite, indigestion, trouble sleeping and weight gain. Other symptoms of heart failure include swelling of the feet or ankles and decreased urination.
Problems with the heart valves, congenital heart disease and heart rhythm disorders can predispose people to heart failure.
Heart failure management involves limiting sodium and taking such medications as ACE inhibitors, digitalis glycosides, angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers.
Sometimes, an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator is necessary to treat heart failure. In other instances, devices known as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or intra-aortic balloon pump are necessary.
