It is characterized by high levels of bilirubin in the body, a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells that is normally processed by the liver and excreted in the bile. 

Symptoms:

• Fever, chills
• Abdominal pain
• Yellowing of skin & eyes
• Feels tired easily
• Weight loss
• Dark colored urine
• Discoloration or clay colored stools
• Drowsiness & confusion

Causes:

• Certain medications, such as birth control pills, NSAIDs, steroids
• Pancreatic cancers that block the bile ducts can lead to jaundice

Symptoms:

• Bloody vomiting
• Blood in stools
• Enlarged esophageal or  stomach vein (Varices)
• Abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation (Ascites)
• Swelling of the legs
• Gastric bleeding

Causes: 

• Use of certain drugs such as NSAIDs
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
• Chronic liver diseases, such as autoimmune or viral hepatitis, and alcohol-related liver damage.
• Underlying diseases, such as chronic heart failure, lead to liver congestion. 

Fatty liver disease (FLD), also called hepatic steatosis, is a health condition characterized by too much fat accumulation in the liver. Fatty liver disease is mainly of two types: alcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Symptoms:

• Pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
• Feeling sick
• Pale-colored stool, dark urine
• Yellow coloration of the skin and eyes
• Bruises or bleeding easily
• Swelling (edema, specifically in the legs)
• Growth of mammary glands among men
• Web-like masses formed from blood vessels below the epidermis

Causes:

• Excessive consumption of alcohol (alcoholic fatty liver)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Overweight or obesity
• Insulin resistance
• A high level of fat in the blood, mainly triglycerides

Liver cirrhosis is the last or the end stage of scarring of the liver, which is usually caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions.

Symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Jaundice
• Abdominal swelling and pain
• Leg Swelling
• Confusion,
• Blood Vomiting  (Hematemesis)

Causes :

• Alcohol consumption can damage liver cells
• Chronic hepatitis B, C
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Autoimmune hepatitis.
• Inherited liver diseases
• Biliary disorders.

Hepatitis is an inflammatory liver condition that is commonly caused by a viral infection. The disease is divided into five types, namely hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E, based on the type of virus that has infected the patient.

Symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Pale stool
• Dark urine
• Flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Yellow skin and eyes may appear as a sign of jaundice

Causes:

• Chronic Alcohol Consumption
• Viral infections (e.g., Hepatitis A, B, C)
• Autoimmune conditions (The Immune system attacks the healthy liver cells)
• Contaminated food & water (Hepatitis A)
• Excessive use of painkillers such as Acetaminophen

Von Gierke disease, Pompe disease, etc., are the common types of glycogen storage disorders, often caused by mutations in the gene responsible for the synthesis of the enzyme that breaks down glycogen. Mostly seen in children; however, a few adults might be affected as well.

Causes:

• Hereditary factors

Symptoms:

• Muscle pain & weakness
• Diminished growth,
• Heat intolerance (Feeling discomfort in  hot weather)
• Abdominal swelling.
• Reduced blood sugar levels
• High cholesterol levels (Infants).

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a significant protein responsible for the protection of the liver; however, children born with AAT deficiency have low levels of AAT, resulting in poor liver function. While it is mostly seen in children, a few adults can also experience AATD.

Symptoms: 

• Extreme tiredness
• Breathing difficulty, 
• Abdominal swelling
• Poor appetite. 

It is the most common and primary type of liver cancer that usually occurs in people with chronic liver diseases.

Symptoms:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Upper abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark urine
• Fever
• Abdominal swelling
• Jaundice
• Bloating

Causes :

• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
• Genetic factors
• Liver cirrhosis
• Chronic liver infections like hepatitis B and C
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Obesity
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Exposure to certain toxic chemicals

Vascular liver diseases are disorders of the hepatic blood vessels where inflammation or clot formation in the hepatic & portal veins disrupts the blood flow, thereby causing liver damage or dysfunction. Examples include: Portal vein thrombosis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension 

Symptoms: 

• Esophageal, stomach & rectal bleeding 
• Abdominal cramps
• Blood in vomit
• Tiredness
• Bloating

Causes:

• Sickle cell anemia (RBCs turn into sickle-shaped cells) 
• History of pregnancy, as it increases the likelihood of blood clots
• Rare blood cancers such as myelofibrosis
• Cancerous or non-cancerous masses in the liver or kidney can narrow the hepatic veins.
• Digestive tract diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

A bilirubin test determines the amount of bilirubin present in the blood, which is a yellow pigment produced in the liver when red blood cells (RBCs) break down. High levels of bilirubin indicate liver issues and may signal liver disorders.

Read more about  —Bilirubin test.

A prothrombin time, known as the PT or pro time test, measures how fast the blood clots. Prothrombin is a protein synthesized by your liver; therefore, high PT levels indicate longer clotting time due to severe liver damage and might cause GI bleeding due to insufficient protein synthesis.  

Read More about – Prothrombin time.

An ALP test is used to determine the levels of alkaline phosphatase in blood, which is an enzyme mostly present in the liver, kidneys, digestive system, and bones. Abnormal ALP levels indicate liver damage.

Read More about—Alkaline Phosphatase Test 

It is otherwise called the aspartate aminotransferase test, which determines the level of SGOT in your bloodstream. If your test results show a higher level of SGOT in the blood, your doctor will most likely diagnose you with a liver ailment. 

Read More about —SGOT blood test.

HBsAg stands for hepatitis B surface antigen. It is a blood test used to check if a person is infected with the hepatitis B virus.

Read More about  —HBsAg Test

It is designed to confirm hepatitis A infection, which assists in identifying active infections and infections that a person has suffered in the past.

Read More about —Hepatitis A test 

 It is a blood test that detects the presence of HEV antibodies produced against the hepatitis E virus.

Read More about — Hepatitis E

 It is performed to screen for the presence of hepatitis B antibodies and is useful in patients diagnosed with hepatitis B infection to identify if they have an active infection. 

Read More about  –HBeAg test.

It is a new, commercially accessible, advanced tool for determining liver tissue stiffness. It aids in the diagnosis and staging of fibrosis in individuals with chronic liver disease. Additionally, it assists in evaluating the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension, thereby reducing the need for liver biopsy.

This technique utilizes a flexible tube and x-rays to address bile and pancreatic duct issues. It aids in improving early diagnosis & treatment of conditions associated with the bile duct, pancreas, & gallbladder, thereby acting as both a diagnostic & therapeutic approach employed to improve the quality of life with high success rates when performed by experts. 

Read more about — Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

A liver biopsy is a cornerstone procedure that provides a detailed examination of liver tissue and offers crucial diagnostic and prognostic information for various liver conditions when other treatments are insufficient. It identifies the underlying cause of liver diseases as well as their severity and helps guide the treatment decision.

Read more about – Liver Biopsy.