Autoimmune liver diseases are a group of liver diseases that occur when your body's own immune system starts attacking your liver cells. The three main types of ALD are autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). These diseases can occur at any age and to any sex, both male and female.
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver which occurs at the terminal stages of chronic liver disease. It is a progressive disease which if left untreated leads to liver failure, a condition where the liver stops its functioning. Cirrhosis does not bring any signs or symptoms until the liver is extensively damaged. As it gets worse, the symptoms may include jaundice, decreased appetite, weight loss, fatigue and weakness, fever, etc.
Cystic condition refers to the formation of abnormal sacs (cysts) in the liver that may contain fluid or a solid mass of cells. In most patients, the cysts are single, although some may have several. The condition which is characterised by several cystic growths on the liver is called polycystic liver disease (PLD). When the cyst enlarges or starts bleeding, it can cause symptoms such as upper abdominal fullness, discomfort, pain, protruding stomach, nausea and vomiting, and shoulder pain.
Fatty Liver Disease is caused by the build-up of fat in the liver. The most common causes of fatty liver disease include heavy alcohol use, obesity, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and high levels of fat in your blood. This disease can prevent the liver from functioning normally and may lead to liver damage under certain circumstances. The most serious complication resulting from fatty liver disease is liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Most often, the inflammation is caused by viral infections and it can be Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. However, the inflammation can also result from heavy alcohol use, consumption of certain medications, inherited diseases, and autoimmune disease. Hepatitis can be acute, chronic or fulminant.
It is short-term and resolves in less than six months.
It is long-term and lasts at-least for six months.
It is a rare, but life-threatening form of hepatitis. It can cause hepatic coma and also decrease the synthesizing capacity of the liver badly.
Bile duct stones are hard stone-like objects that are present in the duct of the bile system. These stones can get formed in the gallbladder and migrate into the bile duct or they can form in the bile duct itself. If the stones become lodged and obstruct the duct, it can lead to severe discomfort and symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, chills, jaundice, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and light-coloured stools.
Gallstones are pieces of solid materials that form within the gallbladder. Most often, the gallstones are formed due to high levels of cholesterol in the bile. However, they can also get formed when the chemicals, like calcium bilirubin and calcium carbonate, in the gallbladder go out of balance. Obesity, consumption of high fatty or cholesterol-rich diet, being female, being 40 years or older are some of the factors that increase the risk of gallstones formation.
Inherited liver diseases are a group of diseases that occur when an abnormal gene inherited from one or both of the parents causes various substances to build up in the liver, resulting in liver damage. The two most common inherited liver diseases are Haemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease. Haemochromatosis occurs when the liver and other organs get accumulated with excessive deposits of iron. On the other hand, Wilson’s disease is the result of excessive built up of copper in the liver and other organs.
The subspeciality of onco-hepatology at Fortis provides advanced and comprehensive care for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer that affects the liver. Our multi-disciplinary team consisting of specialists in the field of hepatology, oncology, radiology, and pathology offers 360° care for our liver cancer patients by using the most advanced facilities and therapies at our disposal. The team also offers dedicated and continued care - monitoring for cancer recurrence and maximizing the outcomes for cancer survivors.
Pancreatitis is a condition that is characterized by inflammation of the pancreas. It can occur in two forms - acute and chronic. In Acute pancreatitis, the inflammation appears suddenly and lasts for a short time. In Chronic pancreatitis, the inflammation comes back consistently or lasts for months or even several years. Pain in the upper abdominal area is the primary symptom of both acute and chronic pancreatitis.
At Fortis, the subspecialty of Paediatric Hepatology offers consultative services and comprehensive care for neonates, children and adolescents with a wide range of diseases and disorders affecting their liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas. With advanced screening methods, high-end diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and the latest surgical interventions, our expert paediatric hepatologists provide high-quality medical care to our young patients in a children-friendly environment.
The Department of Hepatology at Fortis provides qualitative screening and a complete diagnosis of the entire spectrum of liver diseases by actively utilizing the latest and improved diagnostic modalities in the field of Hepatology. To exactly pinpoint the root cause of the symptoms, we offer in-depth diagnosing of all stages of liver diseases, from inflammation to cirrhosis, by performing all types of diagnostic procedures, from liver function tests to liver biopsy.
