Enlarged Liver

Hepatomegaly is the condition of having an enlarged liver. It is a non-specific medical sign having many causes, which can broadly be broken down into infection, direct toxicity, hepatic tumours, or metabolic disorder. Often, hepatomegaly will present as an abdominal mass. Depending on the cause, it may sometimes present along with jaundice. An enlarged liver is one that's bigger than normal. The liver is a large, football-shaped organ found in the upper right portion of your abdomen. The medical term for enlarged liver is hepatomegaly (Enlarged liver) isn't a disease. It's a sign of an underlying problem, such as liver disease, congestive heart failure or cancer. Treatment for enlarged liver involves identifying and controlling the underlying cause of the condition. An enlarged liver may not cause any symptoms. When enlarged liver occurs because of liver disease, it may be accompanied by: Abdominal pain, Fatigue, Nausea and vomiting, Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice). No cases found in Mexico. The prevalence of FLD in the general population ranges from 10% to 24% in various countries.However, the condition is observed in up to 75% of obese people, 35% of whom progressing to NAFLD, despite no evidence of excessive alcohol consumption. FLD is the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests in the United States. "Fatty livers occur in 33% of European-Americans, 45% of Hispanic-Americans, and 24% of African-Americans. It is difficult to estimate the exact prevalence of cirrhosis, as previously undiagnosed cirrhosis is often found at post-mortem. There are an estimated 30,000 people living with cirrhosis in the UK and at least 7,000 new cases being diagnosed each year.

The number of people living with both alcoholic cirrhosis and non-alcohol-related cirrhosis seems to be rising. There is concern that there are growing levels of dangerous alcohol consumption in the UK which may lead to increased numbers of people with cirrhosis. An analysis in the Lancet showed that between 1960 and 2002, total recorded alcohol consumption in Britain doubled. The same report showed that between 1987-1991, and 1997-2001, cirrhosis mortality in men in Scotland more than doubled (104% increase) and in England and Wales rose by over two thirds (69%). Mortality in women increased by almost half (46% in Scotland and 44% in England and Wales). Overall, the goal of hepatomegaly treatment is to address the underlying pathology to reduce the inflammation of the liver, therefore restoring normal liver size, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Medications may be given to control the symptoms of cirrhosis. Edema (fluid retention) and ascites (fluid in the abdomen) are treated, in part, by reducing salt in the diet. Drugs called diuretics are used to remove excess fluid and to prevent edema from recurring. Diet and drug therapies can help improve the altered mental function that cirrhosis can cause. Laxatives such as lactulose may be given to help absorb toxins and speed their removal from the intestines. Liver transplantation may be needed for some people with severe cirrhosis.

Treatment for enlarged liver involves diagnosing and treating the underlying condition that's causing it. Treatment will vary according to the underlying cause of hepatomegaly. For example, if cirrhosis is present, lifestyle and diet changes are recommended. Avoid drinking alcohol or eating salt; consult a physician before taking any type of medication or supplement since the diseased liver may not be able to process such substances. Leukemia is treated with chemotherapy. Inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis are treated with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.