Types of Liver Disease
Acute liver failure
|
Autoimmune-associated
|
Budd-Chiari syndrome
|
Cirrhosis
|
Genetic
|
Hepatitis
|
Infections
|
Liver cancer
|
Obstruction
|
Back to Article
Infections
Parasitic infection
Relatively rare in the U.S., a variety of parasites can migrate to the liver and cause tissue damage and blockages. Examples include malaria, which can actively reproduce in liver cells then go through a period of dormancy before causing periodic disease relapses, Ascaris lumbricoides, Chinese liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini) that can block bile ducts, Schistosoma species, parasitic worms, which cause schistosomiasis and progressive liver scarring, and Echinococcus granulosus, which forms cysts in the liver.
Tests
- O&P (Ova and Parasite Exam)
- Malaria blood test
- Specific antibody test
- Liver biopsy
Imaging scans
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
- CT (computed tomography)
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
For more information on these imaging procedures, see the web site RadiologyInfo.
