Open AccessAbnormal Liver Blood Tests: Hepatologist Approach
Author(s) -
Miodrag Krstić,
Dragana Mijač,
Ratko Tomašević,
Snežana Lukić,
Milica Stojkovic Lalosevic,
Jovan M. Krstic,
Tomica Milosavljević
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
digestive diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.879
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1421-9875
pISSN - 0257-2753
DOI - 10.1159/000517110
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , hepatocellular carcinoma , liver disease , liver transplantation , liver cancer , alcoholic liver disease , chronic liver disease , gastroenterology , fatty liver , disease , viral hepatitis , hepatitis , transplantation
Background: Available data suggest that the prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD) and primary liver cancer is rising in Europe and represents a major public health problem. Predictions are showing that these trends will continue to rise in the upcoming years. Summary: Alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcohol fatty liver disease, and viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer in Europe. Drug-induced liver injury represents a major cause of acute hepatitis, while liver transplantation is the second most common solid organ transplantation in the world. Patients with CLD have increasing rates of hospitalization, longer hospital stays, and more adverse outcomes compared to the other chronic conditions. Direct targeting of risk factors can prevent complications of advanced liver disease and improve outcome. Patients with CLD should be referred to a hepatologist for assessment of the stage of liver disease, for specific treatment and screening for hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, patients with unknown etiology of abnormal liver blood tests should be referred to a hepatologist for assessment of liver disease, as well as for prevention and treatment of complications of cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension. Key Messages: CLD is amenable to prevention and treatment, while disease management strategies need to improve in order to reduce the burden of liver disease and deaths due to end-stage liver diseases.