From the Guidelines
Common symptoms of liver problems include abdominal distension, early satiety, and abdominal pain, as these are the most frequently reported symptoms in patients with liver diseases, such as polycystic liver disease (PLD) 1. These symptoms occur because the liver plays crucial roles in metabolism, detoxification, protein synthesis, and digestive functions. When liver function is compromised, various symptoms may arise.
- Abdominal distension and early satiety are common complaints in patients with PLD, resulting from the continuous increase in volume and number of hepatic cysts 1.
- Abdominal pain may indicate inflammation or fluid accumulation (ascites) in the liver.
- Other symptoms, such as fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), nausea, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, and easy bruising, may also occur in various liver diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) 1.
- The clinical presentation of liver problems can be variable, ranging from no obvious signs or symptoms to a severe and almost identical form of an acute or even fulminant episode of viral hepatitis 1.
- It is essential to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms persist or worsen, as early diagnosis improves treatment outcomes 1.
- Disease-specific symptom severity questionnaires, such as the PLD-Q and POLCA, can be used to assess disease severity and treatment efficacy in patients with PLD 1.
From the Research
Common Symptoms of Liver Problems
- Fatigue and lethargy are common symptoms of liver problems, as seen in patients with cirrhosis and autoimmune liver diseases 2, 3
- Jaundice, characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes, can be a symptom of liver disease, including autoimmune hepatitis 4
- Pruritus, or itching, is a symptom that can occur in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) 3
- Deep cholestatic jaundice can be the initial presentation of autoimmune hepatitis, although this is rare 4
- Elevated serum transaminases and hypergammaglobulinemia can be indicative of liver disease, including autoimmune hepatitis 4, 5
- Autoantibodies and immune-mediated symptoms can occur in patients with chronic hepatitis C, which can be similar to autoimmune hepatitis 5
Autoimmune Liver Diseases
- The three major autoimmune liver diseases are autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) 2, 6, 3
- These conditions are characterized by a breakdown in immunological tolerance, leading to an inflammatory process that causes liver damage 6
- Genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as infections, can contribute to the development of autoimmune liver diseases 6, 3
- Liver transplantation (LT) is an effective therapeutic option for the management of end-stage liver disease secondary to AIH, PBC, and PSC 2, 3