Hepatology terms of interest

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A Few Hepatology terms ... More at the Website

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ALBUMIN - Main circulating protein in bloodstream synthesized by liver.

Measured in blood by laboratory to assess function of liver.

ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE - Enzyme or protein synthesized by the liver in large

amounts when there is obstruction of the bile ducts to the normal flow of

bile. Measured in blood by laboratory to assess function of liver.

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) - Enzyme or protein that leaks from the

damaged liver. Measured in blood to assess liver injury.

ANTI-NUCLEAR ANTIBODY TEST - Laboratory test, when positive suggests the

presence of some form of autoimmune illness.

ASCITES - Fluid accumulation around the liver and other abdominal organs

resulting from portal hypertension.

AST (Aspertate Aminotransferase) - Enzyme or protein that leaks from the

damaged liver. Measured in blood to assess liver injury.

AZATHIOPRINE - Drug marketed with trade name Imuran. Used to treat a number

of diseases of unknown or autoimmune cause. Also used to treat organ

transplant recipients to help prevent graft rejection.

BILE - Fluid produced by liver cells and carried by bile ductules into the

bile duct and stored in gall bladder between meals. Contains substances

needed to aid in the digestion of food. Provides a method for the body to

eliminate toxic substances that are broken down by the liver.

BILIRUBIN - Chemical breakdown product of hemoglobin. Measured in blood

specimen by laboratory to assess function of liver.

CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA - Malignant tumor that arises from bile ducts or ductules.

CHRONIC HEPATITIS - Prolonged inflammation and death of liver cells

persisting for six months or more caused by hepatitis viruses, autoimmune

factors, and on occasion, unknown conditions.

CIRRHOSIS - Used as a pathologic term to denote extensive scarring in the

liver along with irregular nodules of regenerating liver tissue. Used as a

clinical liver term to refer to the condition of individuals with liver

disease accompanied by ascites, esophageal variceal bleeding, or hepatic

encephalopathy.

DRUG HEPATITIS - Hepatitis caused by a drug. Causative drugs include

isoniazid (INH), Alpha Methyldopa, and Dilatin.

ESOPHAGEAL VARICES - Dilated vessels in the lower end of the esophagus that

result from portal hypertension. Often results in gastrointestinal bleeding,

a life threatening complication of cirrhosis.

GALLBLADDER - Specialized organ that joins the bile duct and is located just

under the liver. Stores bile secreted by the liver between meals and empties

this fluid into the intestine to help with digestion at the time of food

intake.

GGTP (Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase) - Enzyme or protein synthesized by the

liver in large amounts when there is obstruction of the bile ducts to the

normal flow of bile. Measured in blood by laboratory to assess function of

liver.

HEMANGIOSARCOMA - Malignant tumor that arises from the blood vessels of the

liver.

HEPATIC ARTERY - Main artery that supplies fully oxygenated blood to the

liver. Comes from aorta to underside of the liver.

HEPATIC VEIN - Main outflow vein of liver connecting liver to vena cava and

then to heart. Located on topside of liver.

HEPATITIS C ANTIBODY (Anti-HC) - Laboratory test that detects antibodies

produced by patient's immune system in response to presence of the hepatitis

C virus. Laboratory test methods include enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and

radioimmunoblot assay (RIBA).

HEPATITIS C RNA (HC RNA) - Laboratory test that measures the levels of

components of the hepatitis C virus in the patient's serum.

HEPATITIS C - Hepatitis caused by the hepatitis C virus. Transmitted by

infected serum. Less than half the patients recover with disappearance of the

virus. Individuals may develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and severe liver

failure, usually after many years of infection.

HEPATITIS D ANTIBODY (Anti-HD) - Laboratory test that detects antibodies in

serum produced by patient's immune system in response to the presence of

hepatitis D virus.

HEPATITIS D - A unique viral particle that infects individuals only when

there is concommitent hepatitis B infection. Increases the likelihood of

severe liver damage and cirrhosis.

HEPATITIS - Liver disorder characterized by inflammation and random necrosis

(death) of liver cells. Caused by viruses, drugs, alcohol, toxins and other

injurious agents.

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE - Comprises inflammatory diseases of the large and

small intestine that are chronic in nature and are often associated with the

development of sclerosing cholangitis.

INTERFERON - Drug produced by several companies with brand names: Intron,

Roferon, and Infragen for the treatment of hepatitis B and C. Interferons are

natural substances produced by the body that help to strengthen the immune

system and display anti-viral activity against infections such as hepatitis

C.

MITOCHONDRIAL ANTIBODY - Laboratory test used to help establish a diagnosis

of primary biliary cirrhosis.

PORTAL HYPERTENSION - Increased pressure in the portal vein and blood vessels

from the intestine resulting from scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver, often

contributing to ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and esophageal variceal

bleeding.

PORTAL VEIN - Main vein that brings blood from the intestine and stomach into

the liver for processing foods. Located on the underside of the liver.

PORTAL-SYSTEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY - Refers to a condition of mental status

changes, ranging from mild confusion to a coma-state resulting from increased

ammonia transferred to the brain because of the inability of the liver to

remove this toxic compound from the circulation.

PREDNISONE - Drug used to treat a number of autoimmune diseases. Broken down

by body into a product normally produced by the adrenal gland. Has broad

immunosuppressive effects and is often used for management of organ

transplant recipients.

PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS - Chronic liver disease, most common in women,

caused by inflammation of bile ductules leading to a raised serum alkaline

phosphatase and serum bilirubin. Course may be prolonged over many years or

may proceed to liver failure in 3-5 years.

PRIMARY SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS - A liver disorder that most commonly occurs

in patients with inflammatory bowel disease resulting in destruction of the

bile ductules in the liver leading to a marked increase in the serum alkaline

phosphatase and serum bilirubin. Ultimately leads to cirrhosis and liver

failure.

PROTHROMBIN TIME - Test performed by laboratory that measures time required

for a blood sample to clot. Reflects overall function of the liver.

RIBAVIRIN - One of a new class of drugs used to treat viral infections called

nucleocide analogues. These drugs interfere in a specific way with the

mechanisms used by viruses for multiplication.

TOXIC HEPATITIS - Hepatitis caused by an industrial chemical such as carbon

tetrachloride or phosphorus.

VIRAL HEPATITIS - Hepatitis caused by any of several known viruses for which

physicians can perform tests.

Joanne C. (PBC), ~*~*~ List Moderator for LIVERSUPPORT_L Digest

http://pbcers.org