Resource Type: PDF
Cystic Disease of the Liver
Cystic disease of the liver is rare and can take several forms. Cysts in the main trunk of the biliary tree are called choledochal cysts. Cysts (lakes) that occur in the small branches of bile ducts within the liver are referred to as Caroli’s syndrome. The other cysts in the […]
Choose This Not That
Your liver cares about everything you eat and drink each day. Too much sugar and fat in your diet can have a similar effect as too much alcohol – fat build-up in the liver. When it is full of fat, the liver can’t perform all its 500 functions and it […]
Body Beautification Checklist
Thinking about getting a body piercing, tattoo, manicure/pedicure, or permanent cosmetics? Like HIV, both hepatitis B and C can be spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person. Because piercing, tattoo equipment and inks, and manicure/pedicure tools can come into contact with blood, and since there’s no […]
Liver Biopsy
What is a liver biopsy? Liver biopsy is a diagnostic procedure used to obtain a small amount of liver tissue, which can be examined under a microscope to determine what is causing the liver disease and the degree of fibrosis (scarring) of the liver. What are the different ways a […]
Biliary Atresia
Biliary atresia is a relatively rare disease that begins in early infancy and affects about one in every 10,000 to 20,000 infants. In biliary atresia the bile duct that leads from the liver to the intestine becomes damaged preventing bile from leaving the liver. In the early stages the bile […]
Autoimmune Hepatitis (PDF)
Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the liver. The best way to describe this disease is to break the term down into its composite words. Autoimmune refers to the body’s own immune system attacking another part of the body. Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, […]
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (PDF)
Alpha-1 anti-trypsin is a protein produced in the liver. One of its functions is to protect the lungs from enzymes produced by inflammatory cells, such as neutrophil-elastase. These enzymes are aimed at killing bacteria but can also cause damage to lung tissue if not properly controlled.