Liver Disease Specialist

What are the types of liver disease?

Liver disease refers to a group of diseases, including:

• Hepatitis A, B, and C
• Liver cancer
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Cirrhosis
• Inherited liver disease (e.g., Wilson disease, hemochromatosis) 

More than 100 types of liver disease exist, and each form of the disease can have variations. 

What are the symptoms of liver disease?

Liver disease can cause symptoms such as: 

• Abdominal swelling
• Leg swelling
• Tendency to bruise
• Urine color change
• Stool color change
• Yellowing skin 
• Jaundice - yellowing of your eye sclera (whites) and mucous membranes

Sometimes, liver disease doesn’t cause physical symptoms in its earlier stages. 

How do you diagnose liver disease?

Initial diagnosis may require a physical exam along with blood tests and imaging tests. Traditionally, liver disease diagnosis often required a biopsy, in which your doctor removed a small section of liver tissue for testing. 

Instead of a biopsy, Arkansas Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center uses FibroScan, the foremost noninvasive diagnostic tool for liver disease. Only a handful of gastroenterology specialists in the entire country have this technology, and the team is proud to offer their patients a painless and fast way to get a liver disease diagnosis and treatment plan.

FibroScan is an ultrasound procedure in which your doctor can visualize fibrosis (scarring) and other liver damage. The FibroScan system can also help them monitor an existing liver disease, including measuring the exact change in fibrosis level since your last test. 

What is the treatment for liver disease?

Every liver disease patient is different. The Arkansas Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center team maps a treatment plan based on the type of liver disease, the disease stage, symptoms, coexisting health conditions or concerns, and other factors. 

Often, lifestyle modifications are a vital part of your treatment. You may need to lose extra weight, stop drinking, start exercising, or make other changes to get healthy again. 

Arkansas Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center offers medical treatment for Hepatitis B and C.

Some liver disease requires condition-specific medication. If you have liver failure, you may need regular liver dialysis to detoxify your blood, and eventually, liver transplant surgery. 

At Arkansas Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center, the caring team adeptly evaluates your needs and designs an ideal liver disease treatment approach for you. Call the office or book an appointment online.