| liver cirrhosis, biliary | Liver cirrhosis in which there is interference with intrahepatic bile flow. It includes primary biliary cirrhosis, an intrahepatic disturbance of bile secretion affecting predominantly middle-aged women and with segmental destruction and, later, absence of septal bile ducts (cirrhosis is the end stage); and secondary biliary cirrhosis, which is produced by prolonged mechanical obstruction of large intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| liver cyst | <radiology> Simple cyst, polycystic liver disease (50% most likely to be renal cysts), abscess (pyogenic, amebic, hydatid), traumatic haematoma, Caroli disease, cystic hepatoblastoma, cystadenoma / cystadenocarcinoma, haemangioendothelioma, cystic metastasis (uncommon): sarcoma, melanoma, ovarian cystadenocarcinoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver diet | A special diet for those with liver disease should be low in protein and higher in carbohydrates. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver diseases, alcoholic | Liver diseases associated with alcoholism. It usually refers to the coexistence of two or more subentities, i.e., alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, but may be the general entity when subentities are not specified. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver diseases, parasitic | Infections of the liver with a parasite. They are caused most commonly by trematodes (flukes). (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver enzyme | <biochemistry> Special proteins found in the cells of the liver that are responsible for catalysing specific metabolic reactions. They may become elevated in the bloodstream in conditions of hepatitis or liver cancer. See: liver function tests. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver extracts | <chemical> Extracts of liver tissue containing uncharacterised specific factors with specific activities; a soluble thermostable fraction of mammalian liver is used in the treatment of pernicious anaemia. Pharmacological action: haematinics. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver failure | A condition of severe end-stage liver dysfunction that is accompanied by a decline in mental status that may range from confusion (hepatic encephalopathy) to unresponsiveness (hepatic coma). Other features include a mousy odour to the breath, difficulty with balance and walking, tremor and impaired speech. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver failure, acute | A form of liver failure with rapid onset. It is often induced by the toxic effect of drugs and various toxic substances in experimental studies in animals and in clinical states in humans. If coma ensues, the constellation of neurological symptoms is referred to as hepatic encephalopathy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver filtrate factor | Former term for pantothenic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver flap | <clinical sign, neurology> Abnormal muscle tremor consisting of involuntary jerking of the hands. May be seen in liver disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver function test | <investigation> A test that measures the blood serum level of several enzymes produced by the liver. An elevated liver function test is a sign of possible liver damage. Examples include: prothrombin time, PTT, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and serum albumin. (14 Oct 1997) |
| liver glycogen | Glycogen stored in the liver. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver haemangioendothelioma | <radiology> Females (67%), infants (90% before 6 m/o), symptoms: mass (hepatomegaly), cutaneous haemangiomas (45%), mildly increased aFP (occasionally), with or without congestive heart failure secondary to shunting (only 4%), usually diffuse, precludes surgery, most involute spontaneously or with steroids Differential diagnosis: mesenchymal hamartoma, cavernous haemangioma, hepatoma, hepatoblastoma (increased aFP), metastatic neuroblastoma (increased serum VMA) (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver kidney syndrome | <syndrome> Severe loss of both liver and kidney function, seen in a variety of diseases, often with fatal outcome. Seen particularly in late-stage liver failure due to cirrhosis or hepatitis, and in several viral infections. (05 Mar 2000) |