There are a number of diseases that may lead to liver failure and require the need for a liver transplant. However, these diseases often affect everyone differently and progress at varying speeds. Therefore, having one of these diseases does not necessarily mean you will need a liver transplant. In addition, we have many therapies available to treat you, which may delay or eliminate the need for a transplant. Despite extensive damage, the liver has the ability to function without producing any symptoms until late in the disease process. If you have any of these symptoms that may signal liver disease, you should be evaluated: jaundice, dark urine, clay-colored stool, spontaneous bleeding or bruising, vomiting blood, prolonged pain in the right upper abdominal area extreme fatigue or swelling of the legs or abdomen.
Risk Factors for Liver Disease
The following risk factors can put you at greater risk for developing liver disease: ingestion of contaminated food or water (hepatitis A and E), chronic intake of high fat, high sugar, low fiber diet, diabetes and obesity, chronic use and abuse of alcohol, use of intravenous or inhaled illegal drugs, tattoos or body piercing under non-sanitary conditions, history of blood transfusions before 1990.
Types of Liver Disease:
Cholestatic Diseases
Cholestatic diseases primarily affect the bile ducts and biliary tree within or outside the liver. Examples include primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), secondary biliary cirrhosis and biliary atresia.
Chronic Hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis affects the liver cells and may be caused by exposure to certain viruses or drugs. These drugs include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), chronic drug or toxin exposure, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, cryptogenic cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis. Patients with hepatitis caused by drugs or alcohol are considered for transplant if they meet certain criteria for abstinence and rehabilitation.
Metabolic Diseases
Metabolic diseases are hereditary diseases and include hemochromotosis, Wilson's disease, Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, glycogen storage disease, tyrosenemia, familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, cystic fibrosis or other metabolic disorders.
Liver Tumors
Tumors are abnormal growths of tissue that could be cancerous. If you have liver cancer but it hasn't spread, a liver transplant could be a good option for you.
Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Liver inflammation which causes a build of fat in the liver. Also grouped with fatty liver disease.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
A liver disease of the bile ducts caused by inflammation that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver
Patient Guides
Why Choose Nebraska Medicine for Help with Chronic Liver Diseases?
The Newest Drugs for Hepatitis
Whether it's Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C you're needing help with, we offer the latest treatments. In the case of Hepatitis C, we provide the latest drugs you may have seen commercials for on television, which are far more effective than anything, in the past, while simultaneously not causing the extreme side effects you used to have to endure.
Learn more specifically about new Hepatitis C treatments.
A Team of Liver Cancer Surgeons and Specialists
In the event a tumor is found on your liver, we have a team of liver cancer specialists who will be able to quickly diagnose whether it's cancerous, and if so, how to proceed - whether surgery can take care of the tumor, or if chemotherapy or radiation would be necessary as well. Learn more about how we treat liver cancer.
Deep Expertise in Liver Transplants
In the event a liver transplant is necessary, we're one of the best places in the Midwest to have one done. See the many reasons why you should have your liver transplant at Nebraska Medicine.