The liver is our body’s central laboratory: it performs more than 500 vital functions, including detoxification, storing nutrients and aiding digestion. As liver diseases can remain symptom-free for a long time, awareness and early diagnosis can be life-saving. The Endomedix Gastroenterology Centre It uses a range of modern tools to help accurately assess the condition of the liver.
Warning signs: When should you see a doctor?
Liver damage often initially causes only general symptoms, but as the condition progresses, specific signs also appear:
- General symptoms: Chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, a dull ache beneath the right rib cage.
- Specific signs: * Jaundice (icterus): Yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes.
- Changes in urine/stool: Dark, beer-coloured urine and pale, clay-coloured stools.
- Skin symptoms: Intense itching, spider veins (small dilated blood vessels on the upper body) or red palms.
- Ascites: Increase in abdominal circumference due to abdominal fluid accumulation.
How is the diagnosis carried out?
At Endomedix, the diagnostic process is a complex one, which may consist of the following steps:
1. Laboratory blood tests (liver function tests)
- Enzymes (GOT, GPT): Elevated levels suggest liver cell damage.
- Bile enzymes (GGT, ALP): They reflect bile secretion and the condition of the bile ducts.
- Functional markers: Bilirubin levels, albumin levels and coagulation factors (INR) indicate the liver’s ability to synthesise and excrete substances.
2. Imaging techniques
- Abdominal ultrasound: The primary, painless screening method for assessing the structure of the liver and the extent of fatty degeneration.
- FibroScan (Transient elastography): A specialised, non-invasive method that measures liver stiffness, thereby helping to determine the stage of scarring (fibrosis) without the need for a biopsy.
Strategies for maintaining liver health
The liver has an excellent ability to regenerate if we provide it with the necessary support in good time:
- Mediterranean diet: A diet rich in vegetables, fish and olive oil, whilst avoiding processed sugars and trans fats.
- Minimising alcohol consumption: Alcohol is a direct toxin to liver cells; cirrhosis can be prevented by drinking in moderation.
- Weight control: Obesity is the primary cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 30 minutes’ exercise a day significantly improves the liver’s metabolism.
- Vaccinations: Vaccination against hepatitis A and B provides essential protection against infectious hepatitis.
- Cautious use of medicines: An overdose of certain painkillers (e.g. paracetamol) can cause serious liver damage.
