Acute Hepatic Porphyria is a family of rare genetic diseases characterized by potentially life-threatening attacks and chronic pain that interfere in their ability to live normal lives.
Alagille Syndrome is an inherited disorder that closely resembles other forms of liver disease seen in infants and young children.
Alcohol-related liver disease is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol and is a common, but preventable, disease. For most people, moderate drinking will not lead to the disease.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a hereditary genetic disorder which may lead to the development of lung and/or liver disease. It is the most common genetic cause of liver disease in children.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the liver and causes it to become inflamed. If untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.
A tumor is an abnormal growth of cells or tissues. Some tumors are malignant, or cancerous. Others are benign, or noncancerous.
Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is the formation of malignant (cancerous) tumors in these tubes or ducts.
Bile ducts become inflamed and blocked soon after birth. This causes bile to remain in the liver, where it starts to destroy liver cells rapidly and cause cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver.
Budd-Chiari Syndrome is disorder in which veins carrying blood out of the liver become narrow and/or blocked due to blood clots.
As cirrhosis becomes worse, the liver will have less healthy tissue. If cirrhosis is not treated, the liver will fail and will not be able to work well or at all.
Many forms of liver disease come with varying forms of complications associated with its progression.
Crigler-Najjar syndrome is a rare, life-threatening inherited condition that affects the liver and is characterized by a high level of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia).
Diagnosing liver disease may involve liver function tests, a liver biopsy and more advanced forms of imaging.
Fatty liver disease is a condition in which excess fat is stored inside liver cells, making it harder for the liver to function.
Galactosemia is an accumulation of galactose in the blood that can cause serious complications like an enlarged liver, kidney failure, cataracts in the eyes or brain damage.
Gilbert Syndrome is a mild genetic disorder in which the liver does not properly process a substance called bilirubin. Bilirubin is made by the break down of red blood cells.
It is an inherited disorder that affects the metabolism – the way the body breaks food down into energy.
Hemochromatosis is an inherited condition in which the body absorbs and stores too much iron that builds up in several organs, especially the liver, and can cause serious damage.
Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE), sometimes referred to as portosystemic encephalopathy or PSE, is a condition that causes temporary worsening of brain function in people with advanced liver disease.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) usually goes away on its own in almost all cases with no serious complications. However, HAV may cause some patients to suffer liver failure.
About 95% of adults who are exposed to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) fully recover within 6 months (acute) without medication. About 5% have it all their lives (chronic) unless they are successfully treated.
Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver. It is the leading cause of liver failure and end stage liver disease and is a major cause of liver transplants in the United States.
Hepatitis Delta (HDV) is one of several infections that can cause damage to the liver. (Others include hepatitis A, B, C). HDV harms liver cells causing inflammation (swelling).
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of cancer among adults in the USA. Most people with hepatocellular carcinoma have many small clusters of cancer cells called nodules.
Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) is a life-threatening condition that affects kidney function in people with advanced liver disease.
Although it has been reported as early as 5 weeks pregnant, it is more common for it to begin in the third trimester, when hormone concentrations are at their highest levels.
Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes. It results from having too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance made from the breakdown of red blood cells.
Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency affects the body’s ability to produce this enzyme needed to breakdown fat and cholesterol. When LAL is missing, fats accumulate and lead to liver and heart disease.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the build up of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol.
NASH tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese, or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. However, some people have NASH even if they do not have any risk factors.
There are a variety of different diseases of the liver that can impact your child. Learn more about them here.
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease resulting from progressive destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts in the liver.
Bile ducts become blocked due to inflammation and scarring or fibrosis, accumulating in the liver, where it gradually damages liver cells and causes cirrhosis, or fibrosis of the liver.
Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC) is a rare genetic (inherited) disorder that causes progressive liver disease which typically leads to liver failure.
Some diseases of the liver are much more uncommon and rare to occur, but when they do it takes a skilled team to diagnose and treat it.
Reye Syndrome is a rare illness that affects all bodily organs but is most harmful to the brain and the liver. It occurs primarily among children recovering from a viral infection.
Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. It may present in acute form as a recent infection with relatively rapid onset, or in chronic form.
Wilson Disease causes the body to retain excess copper. The liver of a person who has Wilson Disease does not release copper into bile as it should.