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Child Liver Disease and Disorders
What is Liver Disease?
Liver disease refers to any damage or disorder that limits or reduces the function of the liver. It can be genetic (inherited) or acquired (something that develops because of infection, unhealthy behaviors or habits, or exposure to certain toxins).
Where is the Liver Located?
The liver is located in the upper right-hand portion of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm and on top of the stomach, right kidney and intestines. It has two main lobes, both of which are made up of eight segments. The segments are made up of a thousand lobules. The lobules are connected to small ducts that connect with larger ducts to ultimately form the common hepatic duct. The common hepatic duct transports bile produced by the liver cells to the gallbladder and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
What is the Function of the Liver?
The liver’s main jobs are to control most chemical levels in the blood and excrete a product called bile. Bile helps to break down fats, preparing them for further digestion and absorption. All of the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this blood and breaks down, balances and creates nutrients for the body to use. It also metabolizes drugs in the blood into forms that are easier for the body to use.
When the liver has broken down harmful substances, they are excreted into the bile or blood. Bile by-products enter the intestine and ultimately leave the body in the feces. Blood by-products are filtered out by the kidneys and leave the body in the form of urine.
Common Liver Disease Symptoms
When diagnosing liver disease, the doctor looks at the patient's symptoms and conducts a physical examination. Common symptoms of liver disease in children include:
Esophageal varices are dilated blood vessels within the walls of the lower part of the esophagus that are prone to bleeding. They can appear in people with severe liver disease. A diseased liver can cause portal hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the portal vein. The portal vein supplies the liver with blood. Over time, this pressure causes blood vessels to grow, called collateral blood vessels. These vessels act as channels to divert the blood under high pressure. The extra pressure in these vessels causes them to dilate and become tortuous. These vessels can eventually reach the lower esophagus and stomach and are prone to rupture. The rupture can lead to significant blood loss from vomiting or from lost blood passing through the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of esophageal varices may include:
- Painless vomiting of blood
- Black, tarry or bloody stools
- Decreased urine output
- Excessive thirst
- Light-headedness
- Paleness
- Anemia, a condition that indicates a low red blood cell count.
Liver encephalopathy is the deterioration of brain function and damage to the nervous system due to toxic substances building up in the blood, which are normally removed by the liver. Liver encephalopathy is also called portal-systemic encephalopathy, hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic coma. Symptoms may include:
- Impaired consciousness
- Changes in logical thinking, personality and behavior
- Mood changes
- Impaired judgment
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Sluggish speech and movement
- Disorientation
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Seizures (rare)
- Muscle stiffness or tremors
- Uncontrollable movement.
Liver failure is severe deterioration of liver function. Liver failure occurs when a large portion of the liver is damaged due to any type of liver disorder. Symptoms may include:
- Jaundice
- Tendency to bruise or bleed easily
- Ascites
- Impaired brain function
- General failing health
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea.
Liver Disease Treatment at CHOC
At the CHOC liver clinic, our board-certified and pediatric-trained specialists provide comprehensive care for a full spectrum of liver diseases. We treat your child with a multidisciplinary team that includes gastroenterologists, dietitians and surgeons, if needed, to treat and manage liver disease so that your child can get back to being a kid.
At CHOC we work with patients and their families to diagnose and treat a variety of liver diseases, including:
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited condition that can cause liver and lung disease. The liver makes a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin that goes into the bloodstream. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is one of the most common genetic causes of liver disease in children.
Alagille Syndrome
Alagille syndrome – also known as Alagille-Watson syndrome, syndromic bile duct paucity and ateriohepatic dysplasia – is an inherited disorder associated with liver, heart, eye and skeletal abnormalities. Liver problems can include cholestasis (stoppage of bile flow out of the liver), jaundice (yellow skin color) and too few bile ducts.
Biliary Atresia
Biliary atresia is a chronic, progressive liver problem that becomes evident shortly after birth. In biliary atresia, bile ducts in the liver are blocked. When the bile is unable to leave the liver through the bile ducts, the liver becomes damaged and many vital body functions are affected. Learn more about biliary atresia.
Choledochal Cysts
A choledochal cyst is a congenital anomaly of the duct that transports bile from the liver to the gall bladder and small intestine. The liver produces bile to help digest food. When a child has a choledochal cyst, a swelling of that duct, bile may back up in the liver. This can cause liver problems or inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) because it blocks the main duct from the pancreas gland to the intestine.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is damage to the liver that decreases blood flow through it over time. As the normal liver tissue is lost, nutrients, hormones, drugs and poisons are not processed by the liver as they should. In addition, protein production and other substances produced by the liver are decreased or stopped all together. Learn more about cirrhosis.
Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty Liver Disease is when someone has fat deposits in their liver. These deposits may keep the liver from doing a good job of removing toxins from your blood. There are two types of fatty liver disease: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Learn more about fatty liver disease.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and can result in liver cell damage and destruction. Hepatitis is a concern because it often originates from a virus and can be spread to others. Not everyone who is infected will experience symptoms. Learn more about hepatitis.
Metabolic Liver Disease
Two main metabolic disorders affect the liver:
- Hemochromatosis (also called iron overload disease). This disease is characterized by the absorption of too much iron from food. Instead of secreting the excess iron, the iron is stored throughout the body, including the liver and pancreas. The excess iron can damage these organs. Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that can lead to liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
- Wilson disease. This disease is characterized by the retention of too much copper in the liver. Instead of releasing the copper into the bile, the liver retains the copper. Eventually, the damaged liver releases copper into the bloodstream. This hereditary disease can cause damage to the kidneys, brain and eyes, and can lead to severe brain damage, liver failure and death.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Bile ducts serve as passageways to drain bile from the liver. In primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), inflammation causes the bile ducts to become too narrow and eventually they are blocked completely.
Tests Used to Diagnose Liver Disease at CHOC
In addition to a physical examination and medical history when diagnosing liver disease, a child’s doctor may request:
- Liver biopsy
- Liver function tests
- Ultrasound
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
We understand it can be overwhelming to have a child with a liver disease or disorder, and you might not know where to start. At CHOC, we are here to help you and your family find the care you need. For more information, find a specialist today, or book an appointment online at a location near you or by calling 888-770-2462.
