Liver disease
Liver disease refers to a range of conditions that damage the liver and impair its ability to function. The liver performs over 500 essential tasks, including filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile for digestion and storing energy.
Common causes include long-term alcohol misuse, viral hepatitis (particularly hepatitis B and C), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and autoimmune conditions. In many cases, liver disease develops gradually over years without obvious symptoms.
Early signs may include:
- Persistent fatigue and general malaise
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Abdominal swelling or discomfort in the upper right side
Blood tests measuring liver enzymes such as ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and bilirubin are used to assess liver health and detect damage. Early detection is important because the liver has a remarkable capacity to repair itself when the cause of damage is identified and addressed.
Causes of Liver disease
Liver disease has several well-established causes. In the UK, the most significant are:
- Alcohol-related liver disease results from long-term heavy drinking. Alcohol is directly toxic to liver cells, and sustained misuse can progress from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis and eventually cirrhosis
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common form of liver disease in the Western world. It is closely linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and involves the accumulation of fat in liver cells in people who drink little or no alcohol
- Viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and hepatitis C, causes inflammation that can lead to chronic liver damage and cirrhosis if untreated
- Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks liver cells
- Inherited conditions such as haemochromatosis (iron overload) and Wilson's disease (copper accumulation) can cause progressive liver damage over time
Certain medications, herbal supplements and prolonged exposure to toxins can also injure the liver. In some cases, multiple factors contribute simultaneously.
Tests that can help check this condition
Learn more on the official NHS page .
