Common Liver Diseases: Liver Disorders
Hepatitis
| Viral Hepatitis
| Alcoholic
liver disease | Liver
cancer | Biliary
disease | Other/metabolic
diseases | Acute
liver failure
Other Liver Disorders
What are autoimmune liver disorders?
An autoimmune disorder is any reaction or attack
of a person's immune system against its own organs and tissues.
In the liver, the immune system can destroy liver cells and damage
bile ducts. Chronic hepatitis can be caused by an autoimmune disorder.
What are metabolic liver disorders?
Two main metabolic disorders affect
the liver:
- Hemochromatosis - the absorption of too much iron
from food. The excess iron is stored throughout the body, including
in the liver and pancreas. This excess iron can damage these
organs. Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that can lead
to liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, heart disease
and diabetes.
- Wilson's Disease - the retention of too much copper
in the liver. Instead of releasing the copper into the bile,
the liver retains the copper. Eventually the damaged liver releases
copper into the bloodstream. This hereditary disease can cause
damage to the kidneys, brain and eyes, and lead to severe brain
damage, liver failure and death.
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