General Hepatology for Liver Disease
General Hepatology for Liver Disease: The primary role of the liver is to help you digest food, turn food into energy, and remove toxins from your blood. while disease, excessive drinking, and obesity can damage your liver, it is a resilient organ, and it can heal with proper treatment.
However, if liver damage is over time it can cause scarring and lead to the liver failure.
Liver Disease of Symptoms
You should make an appointment to see one of our general hematologists if you have any of these symptoms:
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Chronic fatigue
- Dark urine
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swelling in legs or ankles
- Yellow eyes or skin
If left untreated, your symptoms can worsen over time. Our general hematologists may treat you or refer you to one of our other specialists at the mount Sinai.
Stages of Liver damage
Liver specialist at the Mount Sinai health System provide comprehensive evaluation, assessment, and treatment for a wide range of liver diseases and conditions. The most common include: (These should link to their respective sub pages)
- Viral Hepatitis, including Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
- Auto Immune Liver Disease
- Bile Duct Diseases
- Drug Induced Liver Injury
- HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV)
- Liver Cancers
- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
In addition to these diseases, the hematologists at Mount Sinai are also experts in treating.
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Chronic diseases of the liver advance over time and can build up scar tissue in the liver as the liver tries to heal itself from repeated damage. This cycle of scar tissue in the liver as liver tries to heal itself from repeated damage. This cycle of scar tissue accumulation (fibrosis) may lead to the development of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis blocks blood flow to the liver, causing possible liver failure. In cases of liver failure, you may need liver transplantation.
By treating liver conditions at early stages, we may be able to prevent life threatening fibrosis so that you may not need transplantation.
Liver Enzyme Deficiency – Hepatic Porphyria
Hepatic porphyria affects the liver.
Porphyria is a group of rare inherited disorders. There are several types of porphyria, and each affects the body differently. Mount Sinai treats all types of porphyria. Hepatic porphyria affects the liver. Our hematologist recommend liver function tests annually if you have a diagnosis of porphyria or it is suspected.
Porphyria disorders affect the heme an important part of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. Heme forms in bone marrow and the liver with the help of certain enzymes. A shortage of enzymes affects the heme, causing substances to build up in various tissues of the body. Build up of porphyritic can cause severe skin, abdominal, or neurological symptoms depending on the type of porphyria.
Liver Disease in Women
Liver disease in women can be complicated, particularly during pregnancy. At Mount Sinai, we have experts who specialize in caring for women with liver disease that first occurs during pregnancy, or who have had abnormal liver tests. For women with chronic liver disease, we also provide treatment during pregnancy and post delivery. Liver disease includes hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fatty liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis.
Conclusion
Mount Sinai has been at the forefront of many of the clinical trials that have led to advances in the treatment of liver diseases caused either by viruses, genetics, or other factors such as excessive drinking or obesity. Our specialists tailor your treatment plan to provide individual care, with the goal of stopping or slowing the disease so that you can continue to lead an active life.