Liver Disease

The liver is one of the body’s most vital organs. It is responsible for filtering toxins, aiding digestion, producing essential proteins and storing energy. When the liver is not functioning properly, it can lead to a wide range of health issues, from mild inflammation to serious conditions like cirrhosis, liver cancer or even acute liver failure.

At Houston Methodist and the Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation at Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Transplant Center, our team of specialists is dedicated to diagnosing, treating and managing all types of liver disease. Whether you are dealing with a newly discovered condition or advanced liver damage, we offer expert, compassionate care focused on giving you the best quality of life.

Liver disease symptoms may appear gradually or suddenly, depending on the underlying cause. Many liver disease symptoms include the following:

• Fatigue
• Appetite loss
• Skin yellowing (jaundice)
• Fever
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored stool
• Muscle and joint aches
• Weight loss

Additional symptoms found with specific liver conditions may include the following:

• Confusion and cognitive changes: Often seen in hepatic encephalopathy, commonly associated with chronic hepatitis D and cirrhosis
• Skin rashes and abnormal blood vessels: Common in autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis
• Anorexia: Often connected to drug-induced hepatitis
• Fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites): May indicate alcohol-induced liver damage
  
   

Symptoms of cirrhosis, a late-stage liver disease, can include the following:

• Swelling in the feet and abdomen
• Difficulty sleeping at night and increased daytime drowsiness
• Vomiting blood
• Passing bloody, purple or black bowel movements
• Hand tremors
• Muscle loss
• Mental confusion or memory loss

If you’re experiencing any of these signs or are at higher risk due to healthcare exposure, alcohol use or chronic conditions like obesity or diabetes, contact a healthcare provider at Houston Methodist for evaluation. 

Our Approach to Treatment

Houston Methodist and the Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation at Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Transplant Center diagnose, treat and improve liver disease patients’ lives through prevention, early diagnosis and advanced disease management.

Our highly skilled staff solely treats patients with liver disease and liver failure, offering specialized care for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease such as steatotic liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and liver cancer. We are committed to providing the best possible care for our patients, no matter their stage of disease.

Liver Disease Conditions We Treat

Our center specializes in treating all forms of liver disease, including conditions caused by viruses, genetics, medications, alcohol use and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Some of the liver disease conditions we manage include the following:

• Hepatitis: Hepatitis refers to liver inflammation that interferes with liver function, which can lead to scarring (cirrhosis). Viruses are the root cause of hepatitis, and each viral hepatitis type has an alphabet designation for the virus that causes it: Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E
• Autoimmune diseases: These disorders include conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, such as the following examples: 
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis: the slow destruction of liver bile ducts
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis: a bile duct disease
  • Autoimmune hepatitis: liver inflammation caused by the body’s own cells
• Genetic diseases: These hereditary diseases are inherited conditions caused by mutations in genes, such as the following examples: 
  
  • Hemochromatosis: a condition in which the body absorbs more iron than it uses
  • Hyperoxaluria and oxalosis: a rare condition in which the level of oxalate, a natural chemical found in the body, cannot be eliminated by the kidneys
  • Wilson's disease: a genetic disorder in which too much copper is accumulated in the liver, brain and other organs
• Alcohol and drug use 
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: fat buildup in the liver caused by anything other than alcohol consumption
• Liver cancer: A disease in which cells in the liver grow out of control. The most common type is hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC, which typically develops in people with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis.
• Cirrhosis: liver scarring caused by continuous, long-term liver damage. Scar tissue replaces healthy tissue in the liver and prevents the liver from working properly.

How We Diagnose Liver Disease

Accurate diagnosis of liver disease is essential for effective treatment. We use the following tools to assess liver health:

• Blood tests that evaluate liver enzymes and body fluid components
• Liver biopsy that evaluates a tissue sample to pinpoint inflammation, fat content or liver cell damage
• Drug screenings to check for hepatotoxic substance exposure
• Liver function tests (LFTs)
• Imaging tests (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI) to visualize liver tumors, fibrosis or bile duct abnormalities

Treatment Options for Liver Disease

Depending on the cause, liver disease treatments may include the following:

• Rest and hydration
• A healthy diet that includes minimal saturated fats and avoids processed foods and alcohol
• Medications (antivirals, immunosuppressants or enzyme replacements)
• Lifestyle changes, including weight loss and exercise, for those with obesity or metabolic factors
• Avoiding hepatotoxic substances (e.g., alcohol, acetaminophen and certain supplements)
• Vaccines for hepatitis A and B
• Liver transplant for severe or life-threatening cases

Common Risk Factors and Causes of Liver Disease

Understanding your risk for liver disease can lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. Common causes and risk factors of liver disease include the following:

• Chronic alcohol consumption
• Obesity and metabolic syndrome
• Hepatitis virus infections (especially types B and C)
• Chronic drug use or acetaminophen overuse
• Genetic diseases such as hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
• Health-care-related exposure to infected body fluids
• Autoimmune diseases and certain environmental toxins
• Inadequate vaccinations
• Poor dietary habits or excessive supplement use

Why Choose Houston Methodist for Liver Disease Care?

Our liver specialists bring decades of experience and compassion to patients with even the most complex liver conditions. Houston Methodist offers the following advantages:

• The nationally recognized Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation
• Access to cutting-edge treatments and clinical trials
• Multidisciplinary care tailored to your individual needs
• Knowledgeable and board-certified hepatologists, transplant surgeons and advanced care practitioners
• Advanced imaging and diagnostic technologies to identify liver conditions early